Four Nations: How to make it to the final

James Graham (L), Kieran Foran (C) and Cameron Smith. Photo / Getty Images.

The 2014 Four Nations is coming down to a close finish with all teams still in the running to make next weekend's tournament final in Wellington.

However, each nation can also miss out on the decider, and various permutations surround each team's hopes.

Even tournament underdogs Samoa, who have lost narrowly to both England and the Kiwis, can still make the final if results swing their way.

All on eyes will be on Dunedin, where the Kiwis will face off against England on Saturday, and Wollongong, where the Kangaroos will play Samoa on Sunday, to see who advances and who exits.

1st - Kiwis: 4 points (+20 points differential)

If they beat England?
A win over England, or a draw, will put the Kiwis through to the final at Westpac Stadium on November 15.

Should the Kiwis lose to England by nine points or less they will still make the final.
A nine-point loss will leave them tied with England on for-and-against but their stronger defensive record would see them advance on percentages.

If they lose...
However, if New Zealand loses by 10 points or more England will finish higher on the tournament ladder. The Kiwis would then be left hoping the Kangaroos do not make up the points differential between the two teams against Samoa.

2nd - England: 2 points (+2)

If they beat the Kiwis?
England will be looking to beat the Kiwis by 10 points or more to secure their place in the final.

Should they win by less than 10 points they will need the Kangaroos to lose to Samoa or fall short of making up the points difference between the two sides.
For example, England could advance to the final if they managed an eight-point win over New Zealand and the Kangaroos beat Samoa by less than 24 points.

If they lose...
A defeat would mean: A loss will more than likely spell the end for England. If they were to draw with the Kiwis, the Kangaroos could beat Samoa by any margin and make the final, so Steve McNamara's team will be hoping the Pacific side score an upset win.

However, it would need to be a narrow victory, because Samoa could surpass England on points differential, meaning they and Australia would miss out on the final.

3rd - Australia: 2 points (-14)

If they beat Samoa?
The Kangaroos' 14 points differential is their biggest concern. A Kiwis victory on Saturday night would leave the Kangaroos needing only to beat Samoa to advance over England and into the final. The same applies if the Kiwis draw with England.

However, any England victory would require the Kangaroos by a big margin, as they currently trail England on for-and-against by 16 points (a margin that would increase with an England victory) and trail the Kiwis on for-and-against by 34 points.

If they lose...
A shock loss to Samoa would see the Kangaroos miss a tournament final for the first time since3 1954 unless England lose to the Kiwis by 17 points plus whatever margin Australia loses by.

Similarly, if the Kangaroos and Samoa draw then England would need to lose by 17 points for Australia to qualify.

4th - Samoa: 0 points (-8)

If they beat the Kangaroos?
Samoa needs the Kiwis to beat England to have any chance of making it through to the final.

A 10-point differential currently separates England and Samoa, so the Pacific team would need to make up the difference in order to advance.

If the Kiwis beat England by 10 points, any Samoan victory would see them advance.
But if England beat the Kiwis or the two teams draw, then Samoa will be eliminated no matter the result on Sunday.

If they lose...
They exit the tournament.