In Scotland's case, they face Argentina at the Cake Tin in Wellington on September 25, then meet their oldest rivals, England, at Eden Park on October 1.
On those two games hang the Scots' fate.
Scotland's lot has been as plucky quarter-finalists, other than in 1991 when they might have beaten England in their semifinal, but lost 9-6, and lost the third-fourth playoff to the All Blacks in Cardiff.
Scotland have met New Zealand at five of the six tournaments, but remain winless against them over more than 100 years. They were beaten 30-3 by the All Blacks in a 1987 quarter-final at Lancaster Park.
A major casualty is luckless wing Nicky Walker, who damaged a knee in the final warm-up against Italy last month.
Scotland will be led by 2.05m lock Alastair Kellock, who has played 34 tests. He will team up with 2.07m, 126kg Richie Gray (right), whose distinctive blond mop should make him immediately recognisable, and he can play too.
Scotland had a poor Six Nations last season, beating only Italy, but they'll arrive with a couple of wins over Ireland and Italy last month and a draw which does them a favour.
They'll start against Romania in Invercargill, then play Georgia four days later at the same venue.
That will give coach Andy Robinson time to sort out his best options for the tough end to the pool play.
Former England player Robinson has come up with some interesting theories on rugby life in New Zealand.
"In the British Isles when we have New Zealand or South Africa coming we bring out the red carpet for them," he said.
"You don't get any of that when you go to New Zealand.
"All they want is for New Zealand to win and they will do what they can, from the babies all the way through to the grandparents, to help that."
Scotland have a 17-13 forward-backs split. Four-time cup veteran Chris Paterson and lock Nathan Hines are the only players to have played a test in New Zealand.
They will rely on Dan Parks and Ruaridh Jackson at first five-eighth, some hard-running backs, and the Scots have two old hands in Mike Blair and Chris Cusiter at halfback but expect Rory Lawson to have first dibs on the No9 job.
Prospects? Difficult, and they could miss out on the last eight for the first time.
Equally, they've got form for this event, and that could be grim for their old foe England or Argentina.
Fixtures:
Pool B
Saturday September 10 v Romania, Rugby Park Stadium (Invercargill)
Wednesday September 14 v Georgia, Rugby Park Stadium (Invercargill)
Sunday September 25 v Argentina, Wellington Regional Stadium (Wellington)
Sunday October 2 v England Eden Park (Auckland)
