Windhoek — The day every rugby fan has been waiting for for such a long time promises to be a very nervy encounter to say the least. The national rugby team are away to Tunisia this weekend aiming to secure a good result and build a foundation for the return leg at home.

Two matches is all that stands between the glory that comes with world cup qualification between Namibia and Tunisia.

Both nations went through through very tiring and bruising qualification rounds to set up this date.

The road to Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand for Tunisia started in Pool 3. The north Africans were paired with Kenya and Camerooon. Only the top country from each pool could qualify for the semi-final and the men from Tunis skilfully obliged.

Qualifying for the semi-final meant tougher opponents for Tunisia in the form of Uganda.

There were talks in rugby circles that Uganda might just upset the Tunisians in this encounter. All the talks remained talks as the quality of the north Africans came to the fore both in Kampala and in the return leg at home in Tunis. The 41-17 result in Uganda meant the return match in Tunis was a mere formality.

Namibia's road to the rugby fields of Christchurch and Auckland started in Pool 1 with Zimbabwe and Senegal. There were tight and not so beautiful away performances but at the end it was quality that came through.

In the semi-final, Namibia faced-off against one of the better sides on the continent in the shape of the Ivory Coast. The west African nation has the bulk of their squad playing their trade in the French league translating this two-legged tie into a potential banana skin for John Williams and his men.

A tricky fixture it proved to be in Abidjan as the hosts came twice from behind to claim a creditable 13-13 draw against Namibia to give themselves hope for the return match in Windhoek.

However, with the home ground and familiar surroundings in their favor, Namibia let the Ivory Coast have it with a comprehensive 54-12 win.

The best of the best on the continent now meet in two matches to book a place in next year's World Cup and the crown of the Africa Cup.

The first leg in Tunis on Saturday, 14 November promises to be a tight encounter with Namibia hoping to sneak it or at least keep the points difference low for the return leg in Windhoek on 27 November.

The loser of this tie will have to do a cross-continental battle in order for the final place.