The Fiji Under 20s are hoping a heavy diet of Northern Hemisphere opposition will pay off in Friday's relegation clash against Italy in Auckland.
The Pacific side are still searching for their first win at the Junior World Championships, and a fifth successive loss would see them drop to the second tier Junior World Rugby Trophy.
Assistant coach Iliesa Tanivula says Fiji says despite being on the wrong end of the scoreboard he has seen improvements in their performances against Ireland, France, Wales and Argentina.
Fiji were also involved in the wooden-spoon playoff last year, when they beat the USA, but Tanivula doesn't see that as an advantage.
"It doesn't make it any easier mate. The other teams that we've played from the Northern Hemisphere they've been really tough and the intensity they've shown in playing in the set piece is something huge that we've got to try and replicate and hopefully we get it come Friday. We've just got to keep stepping up each time and be in the game come 80 minutes".
