India face Pakistan in the two nations' last pool D game on Wednesday, with the two teams needing a statement performance to qualify for the second round.
India's task is easier, they are on three points, and if Wales fail to beat England a draw would be enough to make it. Pakistan, meanwhile, are on one point after a dramatic draw vs Wales and nothing but a win will do for them.
India are favoured and have dominated Pakistan in recent years. A tight 4-3 in a recent Pro League match hinted at promise of competitiveness increasing but India stamped their authority on the fixture again with a 7-1 win a couple of days later.
A World Cup, with qualification to the next round on the line, comes with a whole different kind of pressure, though.
How to watch:
You can watch India vs Pakistan at the World Cup on JioHotstar and Star Sports in India.
Pool D standings
Key details
Date, kickoff time: 19 August, 6,30 PM IST
Venue: Wagener stadium, Amstelveen, Netherlands
Key Players
India - Harmanpreet Singh
Can it be anyone else? Arguably the best drag flicker around, Harmanpreet has been in stellar form, scoring three of the five goals India has scored this World Cup. He's the tournament's top scorer (at the time of writing).
His threat is well known -- "I would advise Pakistan captain to keep a compact defence and not concede any penalty corners to India in the first quarter," Samiullah Khan, Pakistan legend and the current chief selector of the national team, told PTI -- but stopping him is easier said than done.
Pakistan - Abu Mahmood
Pakistan's goalscoring is far more widespread, both in this tournament and generally, but in a crunch match such as this penalty corner conversion will always be key. With Pakistan needing a win to stay alive at the World Cup, Mahmood will need to be on his A-game on Wednesday.
India's defence was shaky against England and if Pakistan's forwards can win PCs on the counter, Mahmood's prowess will come into the play.