Morocco host Portugal on Saturday at Casablanca's Stade du COC in the first of back-to-back repechage fixtures that will earn the winner the right to face Uruguay for a place in Rugby World Cup pool C alongside New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania.
At 21 in the IRB World Rankings, Portugal sit five places above their African opponents (26) but in the cauldron of Casablanca those paper numbers will count for nothing, particularly with the Moroccans back under the steadying influence of French journeyman coach Claude Saurel.
Saurel was last in charge of Morocco 10 years ago and has since led Georgia to the 2003 Rugby World Cup and Tunisia to the 2005 Sevens Rugby World Cup.
"I see my role with Morocco as helping them make the most of their qualities, to face up to some home truths about why results haven't been going their way and reach a stage where they can take hold of their rugby themselves and take it forward," Saurel told Total Rugby.
"These countries have the talent, the will and if you give you them the high performace structures there's no limit to what they can achieve. When Tunisia beat South Africa at the Seven World Cup in Hong Kong it was a massive moment."
Morocco will also benefit over the coming fortnight from Saurel's personal experiences against the opposition.
"I know the Portuguese well from my time with Georgia and I've got a lot of respect for their coach Tomaz Morais, one of the best in Europe," he said.
"I've seen the tapes from their games with Georgia. They've really developed their game and gone forward and I think in all honesty that they're favourites against us over the next two weeks."
Morais keen to cut error count
Like Saurel, Portugal's leader Morais thrives on a gruelling work ethic and, although his players are largely amateur, he demands the same dedication from them. For the former national team captain World Cup qualification would be the pinnacle, not to mention a huge step forward for the sport in what is a football-crazed environment.
"The match in Casablanca is one of the most important games in our history and we must win if we're still to dream of going to the World Cup," he told Total Rugby.
"We know that Morocco are a very aggressive team, trained by Claude Saurel, a great coach who knows us very well. We have to use our system and cut out the mistakes. We made two errors against Georgia in Tblisi that cost us two tries. We're sure that we will do out best but in my opinion we're not favourites, it's 50-50."
Morais' guarded approach to the first leg is understandable given the location. Morocco's capital is a notoriously difficult place to play.
"Casablanca is a different city with different conditions. The pitch there isn't a great pitch to play rugby. Lisbon will be different on our pitch, in front of our friends, our family with the conditions to play more rugby. But the most important game is in Casablanca because that's where we face the most adversity, that's where the tie could be won or lost for us."
The same goes for Saurel and Morocco. Even given the prize at stake though, the Frenchman's greatest wish is that his players should do themselves justice.
"I've said to the Moroccan boys 'You have a huge opportunity to go out and showcase your talent and you must do that until the end'. If they do that they'll have no regrets because when you have such a good chance of qualifying for the World Cup you have to. That's why I'm here in Morocco, to help their rugby evolve. If it's the Portuguese who qualify it's because they've taken their rugby to a new level and they deserve it and that's what I want from Morocco."
In the other half of the repechage draw Tonga play Korea in Auckland on 10 February, the winner qualifying directly to take their place in Pool A with England, South Africa, Samoa and USA.
