Saurel - wary of Uruguay (Getty Images).

By Simon Stone, PA Sport, Sydney

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Georgia coach Claude Saurel believes the freshness of the Uruguayan side could be the vital difference in Tuesday's clash of the Pool C makeweights at Aussie Stadium.

Saurel's side have been installed as favourites for the encounter on the back of their outstanding performance in defeat against South Africa last Friday.

However, the Frenchman is worried his team have not had sufficient time to recover from their exertions compared to the South Americans, who have not played since their 60-13 defeat to Samoa on October 15.

"We have only had four days to recover, they have had 12, so that must give Uruguay an edge," said Saurel.

"I feel we have improved as the tournament has gone on but you could also say the same about them.

"Their pack is hard and their first line of defence is excellent, so anyone who thinks this will be an easy game for us is wrong."

Saurel has taken a calculated gamble after watching what was regarded as his second choice XV give the mighty Springboks such a tough workout on Friday and brought back seven of his established squad men, including skipper Gregoire Yachvili.

Influential flanker Gio Labadze is still out with an arm injury, while hooker David Dadunashvili retains his place after his try-scoring heroics against the Springboks.

Lock Juan Carlos Bado is a doubt for Uruguay after contracting a throat infection.

The 29-year-old Begles player has been named in the South Americans' starting line-up but his place will go to Juan Miguel Alvarez if he fails to recover.

Coach Diego Ormaechea has made three other changes from the side defeated by Samoa with fly-half Sebastian Aguirre, flanker Hernan Ponte and winger Alfonso Cardoso all included.

Uruguay complete their campaign against England in Brisbane on Sunday, which means Tuesday's contest offers them their only realistic chance of picking up a World Cup point.

But, like Saurel, Ormaechea is playing down his team's victory chances.

"Georgia are a good team and they showed against South Africa they can play an excellent game," he said.

"They have a good scrum, are good in the lineouts and in defence and they also have a good goalkicker. It should be a very interesting game."