Defending champion Italy is hoping to hit its stride in this World Cup against tournament outsider New Zealand on Sunday.
The match will be played at the Mbombela stadium on the fringes of the Kruger National Park, but Sunday's big game will be all about soccer rather than safari.
The statistics suggest Italy will be the hunter, with New Zealand the prey.
The Kiwi's World Cup finals record is restricted to a single previous appearance in 1982, when the team lost all three games.
Italy, by contrast, is among the game's powerhouse teams.
Champions in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006, the Azzurri has won the World Cup more than any other European team - and is just one title behind all-time leader Brazil.
The gulf in class is reflected in FIFA's latest rankings. Italy is fifth, while New Zealand is 78th, the third lowest in the tournament.
Marcello Lippi, architect of Italy's triumph in 2006, is also back in charge of the national team after a brief hiatus.
Despite the weight of numbers, Italy has struggled for form recently and it wouldn't be the first time New Zealand has made life difficult for Lippi's side.
The Kiwis took the lead twice and led at half time in a friendly in Pretoria just over a year ago as both teams warmed up for the Confederations Cup.
Alberto Gilardino pulled Italy level just after the break and Lippi sent on four substitutions after an hour to shake things up.
Vincenzo Iaquinta promptly scored twice to condemn the New Zealanders to a 4-2 loss - but the warning lights had flashed, albeit briefly.
Italy's uninspiring 1-1 draw with Paraguay in the team's opener on Monday has also got fans fidgeting - though Lippi was characteristically calm after the match.
``At a World Cup you've got to build belief, confidence and condition game by game,'' he said. ``I've never seen a team start off at 100 percent and maintain that form for seven games.''
Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini was also confident.
``We're certainly not as behind form as everybody made us out to be, although we still have a lot of room for improvement,'' he said.
``New Zealand is a very physical team and we saw that when we met them before the Confederations Cup. They're dangerous on headers, crosses and free kicks.''
The All-Whites have already shown they will not be pulled down easily in this World Cup.
Winston Reid's headed equalizer in injury time against Slovakia provided a mini upset to secure the national team's first World Cup point and leave the group deadlocked after the first game.
A draw or better against Italy would be a much bigger shock. ``Look, I?m sure everybody in the group thought they would get three points out of New Zealand and maybe the Slovakia result will change Italy?s thinking a small bit but I don?t know,'' Herbert said.
The New Zealand coach could call on vice-captain Tim Brown for the Italy match after the Wellington Phoenix midfielder joined the squad.
Brown missed the draw with Slovakia as he only arrived in South Africa last week following surgery on his injured shoulder.
Herbert is pleased with the way Brown is performing in training and said: ``You know what players are like. They want to step out tomorrow but Tim is realistic.
``I am not going to put any pressure on him. If he's positive and comfortable around selection time, he will be considered.''
Italy is also bothered by injuries to key men.
Midfield schemer Andrea Pirlo will miss out with a left calf injury, while veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has a herniated disc and will be replaced in goal against New Zealand by Cagliari goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.
``I plan to enjoy Sunday's game, I am calm and ready to help the national team,'' Marchetti said. ``New Zealand are a physical side. They are strong in aerial play.''
Italy has also struggled to score goals recently, with just four in its last six outings - and just one of those was from a forward.
The Paraguay draw was earned by midfielder Daniele De Rossi's strike from a corner.
``We're lacking a bit of everything,'' De Rossi said Friday when asked to analyze the squad's scoring problems. ``A bit more nastiness would certainly help. The ball has been skidding away and it hasn't been easy to complete that last pass. But we can definitely improve.
``Not qualifying for the second round would be a complete failure,'' the AS Roma midfielder added. ``It would be like New Zealand going out in the first round of the Rugby World Cup.
``I think finishing among the top four would be a respectable result.''
