Africa's top-ranked side Algeria need a win to ensure they don't suffer an embarrassing first-round exit at the African Nations Cup when they play their final Group C game against pool leaders Senegal in Malabo on Tuesday.
A draw would be good enough only if South Africa defeat Ghana in the other match in the pool, meaning the north Africans must look to keep their destiny in their own hands and go for the win.
They have not yet hit the heights they reached during the World Cup in Brazil last year, when they were by far the best African side on display and took eventual winners Germany close in the second round. In this tournament they were outplayed for most of their opener against South Africa and then lost to Ghana next time round.
The good news for coach Christian Gourcuff is that he knows his side have more in the tank and can improve dramatically on what they have shown so far - if they have the will and the desire.
The French coach says the better pitch in Malabo will suit his team's passing game after they failed to register a single shot on target in their last game against Ghana.
"In Mongomo it [the pitch] was very difficult, but here we hope to be able to play our passing game," Gourcuff told reporters. "If you're on the pitch in Mongomo, try to put together three passes. I'm not even sure (Lionel) Messi would manage that."
Gourcuff will be without injured leading striker Islam Slimani and will now turn to El Arbi Hillel Soudani to start. They will also sweat on the fitness of influential defender Rafik Halliche.
Senegal can afford a draw to put themselves into the next round but coach Alain Giresse says he is taking nothing for granted.
"Nothing is settled. The final day will be fatal. That shows how difficult a group this is," he said.
The west African side have a good record against Algeria with just one defeat in their last seven meetings, but have now gone 13 games at the Nations Cup finals without keeping a clean sheet.
They also fell at the first hurdle in 2008 and 2012 when, like this year, they entered the competition with fancied sides, but failed to deliver.
