Rampaging Tonga prop Antonio Kaufusi has played some big games in his time and most of them have ended in tears.

Take his two NRL grand final appearances with Melbourne. The 2006 final ended in a 15-8 loss to Brisbane and the 2008 decider a record 40-0 defeat to Manly.

His one and only Origin appearance for Queensland ended with a win but he was carried off Suncorp Stadium with ruptured knee ligaments that ended his 2007 season and cost him a place in Melbourne's premiership team.

It has only been in Test football that Kaufusi has experienced complete success, beating Great Britain 33-10 in the 2006 Tri Nations as he replaced suspended Willie Mason.

Now playing for his native Tonga Kaufusi is hoping his big game curse doesn't filter into the Test arena as he readies himself for the most intense match of his career against fierce Pacific rivals Samoa in a World Cup pool clash at CUA Stadium.

"Yeah it will be up there," he said when asked if the Pacific rivalry was the most intense he'd experienced.

"To be put in the same pool as Samoa it was always going to be tough.

"We want to go out there and do everyone proud."

The 114kg giant insists he has moved on from the grand final defeat to the Sea Eagles and that victory over Samoa on Friday, securing a World Cup semi-final playoff berth, would not ease his NRL pain.

"I buried that when I left Melbourne a week after the grand final," he said.

"The World Cup is totally different. What happened in September is not an issue with me while I'm here in the Tongan team."

Tonga are favourites for Friday's game after beating Samoa at Leeds in the World Cup qualifiers two years ago but expectations have eased somewhat after they just edged past Ireland 22-20 last Monday.

Both sides are stacked with NRL talent and organisers are bracing for a torrid physical encounter that always exists when the neighbouring nations clash.

Kaufusi expects plenty of fireworks on Friday but believes discipline will be the deciding factor.

"I just believe if we be patient and hold the ball and complete then no doubt we will play better (than we did against Ireland)," he said.

"The team that holds the ball more is going to win the game.

"We have to get our team going forward and they will try to do the same. At times it's going to be a shit fight out there and we have to be willing to dig our heels in and go from there.

"We are going out there knowing we have a fight on our hands.

"At the end of the day we have a job to do and emotion is not going to get the job done."

Teams:

Tonga: Michael Jennings, Cooper Vuna, Fetuli Talanoa, Etuate Uasisele, Esikeli Tonga, Feleti Mateo, Joel Taufaao, Antonio Kaufusi, Tevita Leo-Latu, Awen Guttenbeil, Lopini Paea (capt), Richard Faaoso, Willie Manu. Interchange: Manase Manuokafoa, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Moa, Mickey Paea.

Samoa: Smith Samau, Francis Meli, George Carmont, Willie Talau, Matt Utai, Nigel Vagana (capt), Ben Roberts, Kylie Leuluai, Terrence Seuseu, Tony Puletua, David Solomona, Lagi Setu, Harrison Hansen. Interchange: Frank Puletua, David Faiumu, Joseph Paulo, Ali Lauitiiti, Alby Talipeau (one to be omitted).

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