Tonga go into the World Cup once again relishing a crack at the heavyweights of international rugby.

The Pacific islanders will fancy their chances in Pool D with Italy, whom they beat 28-25 in 1999, Wales and Canada all beatable in the race for second place behind the All Blacks.

Playing a powerful brand of agressive rugby in both attack and defence, coach Jim Love is working hard to improve an area of Tongan weakness - forward organisation.

The Polynesians have a history of struggling to gel as a forward unit, with particular problems in scrums, line-outs and in co-ordinating their explosive defence.

The task of reversing this trend would be a lot simpler had it not been for the failure to keep hold of back-row forwards of the calibre of Willie Ofahengaue and Toutai Kefu, who opted for international rugby with Australia despite Tongan roots.

It is a familiar problem with Jonah Lomu, arguably the most famous rugby player of all time, also of Tongan descent.

But come October, this rugby-mad nation will be focusing only on the players who are wearing their red shirt.

Those players had to go through the play-offs having lost all four games against neighbours Fiji and Samoa but prevailed to maintain their record of playing at every World Cup except the 1991 tournament.

And, although they have failed to reach the quarter-finals on each occasion, they have certainly made an impression on every side they have come up against.

With only the New Zealand game an issue of damage-limitation this time around, Tonga are a threat to the others in their group and Wales, Italy and Canada cannot afford to underestimate them.

Squad: Inoke Afeaki, Stanley Afeaki, Anthony Alatini, Ipolito Fenukitau, Pila Fifita, Sione Fonua, Pierre Hola, Sukanaivalu Hufanga, Benhur Kivalu, Tonga Leaaetoa, Edward Langi, Usaia Latu, Heamani Lavaka, Gus Leger, Viliami Ma'asi, Sililo Martens, Nisifolo Naufahu, Johnny Ngauamo, Milton Ngauamo, David Palu, John Payne, Kisi Pulu, Ephram Taukafa, Kafolosi Tonga, Sione Tu'amoheloa, Tevita Tu'ifua, Sateki Tu'ipolotu, Lisiate Ulufonua, Sila Va'enuku, Viliami Vaki.