Shaun Edwards believes four years of planning and plotting will bring their reward tomorrow when he is backing Wales to beat Australia.
The Wales defence coach insists the critical clash in Tokyo has been a focal point for him and his players since the draw for the World Cup was made.
Wales have lost to the Wallabies at the last three tournaments and only won four matches in the last 31 played between the countries, so it is hardly surprising that Edwards admits this fixture has been whirring around in his head almost since he left Twickenham after Wales were beaten by South Africa in the 2015 quarter-final.
The winners will be overwhelming favourites to finish top of Pool D and potentially open up a more straightforward route in the knockout phase.
England and New Zealand, though, are set to loom large for the losers, which underlines huge stakes in what could be the game of the tournament so far.
“Let’s be honest, we have been preparing for this since the draw was made,” said Edwards. “It’s a pivotal game.
“I said to the players this is a game they will remember for the rest of their lives, and we want to be successful in it.
“Each game is a different entity. Let’s get it on. These are two top teams and equally matched having it out in the pool games. Hopefully it will be a good advert for the game of rugby.”
Wales beat Australia 9-6 when the countries last met 10 months ago, and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has installed them as favourites on Sunday.
But Edwards added: “I don’t think it matters one jot by the time kick-off comes around. It’s all down to the players in the end. All the talk, it doesn’t matter one jot.
“I think there will be more points than 9-6, but history tells you there have been a lot of one-score games between us and Australia.
“That’s why our discipline is so important. It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s another one-score game, and hopefully it goes to Wales.”
Wales have spilt blood in training this week, underlining intense preparations for what is one of their biggest matches since head coach Warren Gatland was appointed almost 12 years ago.
“There has been an edge to us all week,” Edwards said. “The difference for us in this game is that we’ve had four months of preparation, and normally we have four days.
“It (Australia’s attack) has probably changed a little bit in the last couple of years.
“I think their last performance showed that their driven line-out is a huge presence for them at the moment. It definitely got them out of trouble against Fiji.
“The nine and ten are always an emphasis for any team, but particularly for Australia with the experience and the skill they have there.
“As regards to saying we’re going to win the World Cup, that has never really been our approach. Our approach has been to win the next game.
“The next game for us is Australia and we are going into it pretty well-prepared against a formidable opponent. Let’s get it on.”
The breakdown battle is likely to prove pivotal, with 22-year-old Wales flanker Aaron Wainwright – who plays only his second World Cup game – among those trying to combat Australia’s huge twin back-row threat of Michael Hooper and David Pocock.
Wainwright said: “Obviously, Pocock and Hooper on both flanks are really good over the ball. It’s about what we can do to combat that.
“They are massive at the breakdown. Pocock had five turnovers against us in November, and the main focus is taking that threat of those two away from them.”
In dropping Christian Leali’ifano, Kurtley Beale, and Nic White from his starting lineup , Cheika said the moves were planned before the World Cup.
All three backs started in the comeback win over Fiji last weekend in Sapporo.
But Cheika decided to turn back the clock to the 2015 World Cup — when Australia beat Wales 15-6, also in the pool stage — and start fly-half Bernard Foley, scrum-half Will Genia, and Adam Ashley-Cooper on the right wing vacated by the suspended Reece Hodge, and with fullback Dane Haylett-Petty.
“They’re not form decisions,” Cheika said. “I just want to make a different picture for this game.
“I’m not going to talk about the picture I’m trying to create because I might as well go to the opposition and give them my notes. Not that that makes any difference, I suppose.”
Cheika said the balance at the start and off the bench was tailored to the opposition.
“I feel like this is a good combination for this game,” he said. “What’s also good about it is we’ve got Nic White, Kurtley Beale, Adam Coleman, Sekope Kepu, James Slipper, and Lukhan (Salakaia-Loto) coming to finish the game with the impact we’ll need to beat one of the top teams.”
Australia: Dane Haylett-Petty, Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O’Connor, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Isi Naisarani, Michael Hooper (captain), David Pocock, Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda, Allan Alaalatoa, Tolu Latu, Scott Sio. Reps: Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Adam Coleman, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nicholas White, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
Wales: Liam Williams, George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Aaron Wainwright, Alun Wyn Jones (captain) Jake Ball, Tom Francis, Ken Owens, Wyn Jones. Reps: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Aaron Shingler, Ross Moriarty, Tomos Williams, Rhys Patchell, Owen Watkin.