Speculation continues to mount as to which top tier rugby nation from the World Cup 'pool of death' will miss out on a place in the finals – Australia, England or Wales.
But Wallabies back Israel Folau warns that Fiji - who round out their World Cup pool along with Uruguay - still loom as a potential bogey team if Australia fail to respect them.
Fiji are ninth on the World Rugby standings as of August 17. Australia were third, England fourth, Wales sixth and Uruguay 19th.
But you only need to think back to the 2007 World Cup in France where Fiji held the eventual winners, South Africa, to 20-20 at half-time in the quarter-final at Marseilles.
The Springboks went on to win 37-20, but Fiji nevertheless gave the Springboks an almighty scare. Hence, Folau believes the Wallabies can ill-afford to treat Fiji as any less of a danger than their top tier pool rivals in this year's World Cup which starts September 18.
A shock loss to Fiji, who Australia play first on September 23 at Cardiff, would send the Wallabies' World Cup campaign into a spin, knowing that after facing Uruguay on September 27 at Birmingham - and needing to finish in the top two of their pool to qualify for the quarter-finals - they still have to play powerhouses England on October 3 and Wales on October 10 at Twickenham.
Asked on Thursday if the Wallabies have spoken of Fiji's threat, Folau said: "Not yet, but I'm sure the guys already know that.
"Fiji are a bit unpredictable how they play. So you can't really train for the certain style of [how] they play footy.
"Anything can happen on the [day]. We just want to make sure we train for everything, we prepare for anything possible and make sure we tick all the boxes."
For the Wallabies to be primed for their World Cup start, Folau expects coach Michael Cheika will pick his best side for their Test against the United States at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 5.
"I think so," Folau said when asked. "It's our last [game] before our game against Fiji.
"We [will then] have a couple of weeks before the first [World Cup] game.
"It's our last opportunity to put the things we work on at training into a game situation before we play Fiji."
Folau, 26 and with 33 Test caps, is the biggest name in Australian rugby and a certainty to be named in the 31-strong World Cup squad on Friday. But on Thursday, he exuded the excitement of a rookie.
His career includes playing for the Kangaroos, in State of Origin, NRL grand finals; and since joining union from AFL, playing in a Super Rugby final-winning Waratahs side, and in Bledisloe Cup Tests.
But he believes his first Rugby World Cup will be the pinnacle of his career so far.
"This is definitely the pinnacle," Folau said. "Now that it is getting closer I'm realising how big the event is.
"Not that I'm feeling any pressure. You want to try and make the most of the opportunity. It comes around every four years.
"Some guys don't even get to play in a World Cup. So [I am] just grateful for the position I am in."
Pressed on any apprehension he may be feeling for the World Cup, Folau said: "I have played at Twickenham twice now and experienced the atmosphere. It's something that you don't get anywhere else.
"It will be a pretty electrifying atmosphere, but I don't know what to expect.
"I've never played in a Rugby World Cup. I'm just going to try and soak in everything I can ... probably take in one week at a time, realising the reason we are there for."
