Qualification for the next Rugby World Cup is also at stake for the Flying Fijians heading into this week’s clash against Georgia.

Head Coach John McKee says progressing to the play-offs is the most important thing for them but then there is also who finishes third in the pool, because qualification for the World Cup helps a team’s whole World Cup cycle.

McKee says that is absolutely an important factor but they’re not focusing on anything outside the performance of their game because everything else is irrelevant if they don’t get the performance right.

McKee is preparing Fiji for the physicality on which Georgia have made a name for themselves and believes the battle at close quarters will be decisive on Thursday, as Georgia look to put behind them their 43-14 opening defeat by Wales.

Speaking to Rugby World Cup media, the national coach says it is going to be a different sort of game and they can’t expect to go out there and be able to throw the ball around.

He adds the Flying Fijians will have to win the collisions and the contact zone first and, if they can do that, they will then earn the right to go wide.

McKee says they have to win the gain-line and defence, which is where the battle ground is going to be against Georgia.

Fiji will play Georgia at 5:15pm on Thursday.

Meanwhile, today, Samoa takes on Scotland at 10:15pm.