In a rare inter-group match in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, Group B leaders United States take on the Group C third-placer Scotland that could determine the latter's fate in the tournament.

Scotland was formerly ahead of Tonga in their group as the Kiwis have a superior 1-1-0 record, good for three points. However, Tonga defeated Group D's Cook Islands 22-16, giving them a 2-0-1 record and propelling them to second place behind Italy. Scotland needs to win -- and win big -- against the Americans in order to secure the remaining knock-out slot for Group C.

The USA Tomahawks lead Group D with a 2-0-0 record, including wins against Wales and Cook Islands. Among all the participating teams, only the U.S.A. team is safely in the quarterfinals; they await the winner of Group A, most probably Australia, in the next stage. However, a win over the bruising Scottish Bravehearts will give them the momentum coming into the Nov. 16 start of the knockout stage.

Both Scotland and the U.S.A. are formidable, at least on paper. They are 11th and 12th, respectively, on the RLIF rankings. The Scots have won both of their previous meetings, in 1995 and 1996, and the Americans are itching for payback, on the world's biggest rugby league stage, no less. The U.S.A. team also want to make an immediate impact in their first ever World Cup appearance by qualifying for the quarterfinals. For the Scots, a finish equalling or even surpassing their eighth-place performance in 2008 could be the boost the sport needs after languishing in the shadow od rugby union and soccer.

The match will be played on The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, a stadium with a capacity of 10,000.