USA and Canada will give new meaning to the word rivalry when they face each other for the fifth time this year at Surrey Sports Park on Sunday, only this time there's a little bit more at stake than just North American bragging rights.
Fifth place at Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 is the prize on offer, with neither side likely to take a backward step as USA look to equal their ranking of four years ago and Canada aim to finish on a high after having their title dreams dashed by France.
Both will leave this tournament with a multitude of positives,
but also no doubt with a few 'what if' and 'if
only' thoughts lurking at the back of their minds. However, all
those will be pushed firmly to one side come 13:30 local time when
North American rivalry is transferred to Pitch 1 at Surrey Sports
Park.
As USA captain and full back Ashley English explained,
it's a special rivalry.
"It's like an NFL team, when you have the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. At the bar after the game, people like to joke with each other, but as people they're great. It's on the field where it is very head to head and a very fierce competition," English explained.
A sentiment echoed by Canada wing Maria Gallo: "It's kind of like what the Kiwis have with the Aussies, the Scottish with the Irish, Canadians and Americans. Whether it's rugby, hockey, any type of sport, there is going to be that battle. I can't really put my finger on it, but it is what it is."
Canada hold the upper hand in 2010, winning three of the four meetings between the sides stretching back to January, but while a semi final place may have eluded both, Sunday's match is still one that really counts.
Importance of finishing fifth
"It's tremendously important [that fifth place]. That was our ranking at the start of the World Cup. We were hoping for a top four finish, but it is tremendously important that we finish fifth and no less," insisted English.
"We need to play 80 minutes of good rugby. Two of the times we lost to Canada was near the end of the game, we maybe lost our focus a bit because we were ahead. So we've gotten a lot of practice playing 80 minutes of good rugby here at the World Cup, and that's what we need to do on Sunday."
Gallo added: "It's like tossing a coin, it's 50:50. They can do something brand new and something we've never seen and vice versa. I'm not going to rely on the past to set the future and we are going to take that match independently.
"No doubt it's going to be a hard game. The Americans are very physical, very tenacious and there is that animosity between the northern and southern borders, so it's just going to end my career right on a hard fought match."
Victory and fifth place would be a fitting curtain call for Gallo after a distinguished career which began in 1996 in her hometown of Guelph, Ontario. Sunday will be cap number 56 and Gallo will bow out of the Game with a host of cherished memories, not least from playing the old foe.
Special memories
"Of my 55 caps I think I will be ending my career with 28 of them against the USA," revealed Gallo. "I remember one match in Ottawa a few years ago and it was just one of those afternoons where we could do no wrong.
"The ball was bouncing our way; we were getting calls from the ref and we were actually smiling on the field and having fun. Those games don't come by very often, but I definitely want to try and mimic that Saturday afternoon in Ottawa and play that way.
"There's been highs, there's been lows. I'd definitely like to end with a win so we're going to do everything we can on Sunday."
Gallo, though, is not alone in harbouring special memories of the long and enduring rugby rivalry between the top sides in North America, as English has a few of her own.
"When we win that stands out, as the excitement when we play Canada in front of a home crowd is really exciting," admitted English. "But do you know what also really stands out? When we lose in front of a home crowd - it's very hard to disappoint your home crowd like that."
English has seen her side improve steadily during this World Cup, culminating in a gutsy display against England and a comprehensive victory over Ireland to avenge their pool defeat, to set up Sunday's match with Canada.
"We've certainly scored more points in this tournament then we have in a long time, which is really great that we've figured how to get into the try zone.
"So far, we are the only team who have scored against England and that's something we are very proud of. We really have improved on every game, so we are looking to be even better in our next game than the last.
Growing confidence
"Our confidence has grown. The way we played against England, there was a lot of heart in that game. At the end of the game, people could barely walk off the field where they had given everything."
For Gallo and Canada, it's a similar tale of what might have been, having blasted out of the blocks against Scotland and Sweden, only to falter against France and miss out on a semi final place by the narrowest of margins.
"It's definitely a disappointment. When I left Canada I told friends and family I didn't want to come third, but when we lost to France we had to refocus," explained Gallo.
"We definitely want to end this tournament with four wins and one loss - that is not a bad history. If we play a good game to our full potential with the teammates that I love, I'll walk off that field completely happy."
For Lake Parker Park or Shawnigan Lake on Sunday, read Surrey Sports Park, and one senses that whether Canada and USA were playing for 12th place or the World Cup itself, they'll be no quarter asked or given.
