Fiji captain braced for Samoan showdown

Fiji captain Deacon Manu feels his side's battle with Samoa on Sunday is a must-win match.

The two Pacific Island sides collide in a crucial Rugby World Cup Pool D clash, with the losers likely to be eliminated given they have already lost once.

"I think it's hinging on this game really, it's such a crucial game in the whole scheme of things," Fiji captain Deacon Manu said.

"We've both won a game and we've lost a game so this is going to be an integral part of where we want to be in terms of a quarter final spot."

Manu praised organisers for scheduling the match at Eden Park, with Auckland's large Fijian and Samoan communities sure to come out in force for the mach.

"It's great to be playing up in Auckland," he said.

"You know the huge local Fijian and Samoan communities up in Auckland, that's a stronghold of those areas."

"So it's going to be a huge game for both teams, we're both coming off losses and we both desperately needing a win."

Fiji will head into the match with confidence, having notched a 36-18 win in the last meeting between the two sides.