Sitting pretty: Australia have, predictably, breezed through the group stage. Credit:AAP POOL B: (Top three qualify) New Zealand 4 (+98), Tonga 4 (+60), Samoa 0 (-44), Scotland 0 (-114) Remaining games: New Zealand v Tonga, Samoa v Scotland. The winner of the Kiwis and Tonga on Saturday night will top the group and likely play Lebanon in the quarter-finals, while the loser is set to face Fiji. Samoa and Scotland face off in a do-or-die clash in Cairns, with the winner to play Australia in the finals. The Bravehearts come into the match in turmoil, with captain Danny Brough and teammates Johnny Walker and Sam Brooks sent home for misconduct.

POOL C: (Top team qualifies) Papua New Guinea 4 (+52), Ireland 2 (+16), Wales 0 (-110) Remaining games: Wales v Ireland, PNG v USA (crossover). Ireland must account for the struggling Wales on Sunday, then hope USA shock PNG. The results will also need to be by a combined margin of at least 36 for the Irish to have any hope. Otherwise, PNG's fairytale run will continue into a likely quarter-finals date with England. Wales' tournament is already mathematically over. POOL D (Top team qualifies)

Fiji 4 (+112), Italy 2 (+22), USA 0 (-92) Remaining games: Fiji v Italy, PNG v USA (crossover) Fiji will reach the quarter-finals unless Italy beat them by at least 45 points on Friday night to leap into top spot. It means that unless there is some sort of calamity, the Bati will have a tantalising quarter-final clash with the loser of New Zealand and Tonga, The USA's tournament is already mathematically over. LIKELY FINALS: QF1: Australia v Samoa/Scotland, Darwin

QF2: Winner New Zealand/Tonga v Lebanon, Christchurch QF3: England v PNG, Wellington QF4: Loser New Zealand/Tonga v Fiji, Melbourne Semi Finals: SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF4, Brisbane

SF2: Winner QF2 v Winner QF3, Auckland Final: Loading Winner SF1 v Winner SF2, Brisbane AAP