THE Digicel Fiji 7s team will have to dig deep against Samoa when the two Pacific neighbours face-off in the second Cup quarter-final of the Gold Coast 7s at Skilled Park Stadium here in Robina.
The Levani Botia-captained side lost to Australia 14-15 in the Pool B decider in what was their first real test on Day One after brushing aside Scotland 31-14 and Tonga 35-7.
Fiji scored the opening try through Joji Ragamate but Australia's Allan Fa'alava'au struck twice to give the host a 10-7 lead at break.
Alipate Ratini's blistering run midway in the second spell saw Fiji in lead again before Jordan Tuapou crossed the line to give the Australians a 15-14 win.
Coach Timoci Wainiqolo was not too disappointed with the performance of his gladiators who stood strong against the home team until the final whistle.
"I must thank them for the good performance they put in. Australia is not an easy team to beat in front of their home crowd and they really tested us today (yesterday)," Wainiqolo said.
"The Australians pointed out some of our weaknesses and we will have to work on that. We can always learn from our mistakes.
"I've told the boys that today's (yesterday's) games are over and we need to look to the quarter-final now."
Wainiqolo said they had set out a plan to tackle Samoa at 2.24pm (Fiji time) today.
In the other quarter-finals, South Africa faces France at 1.58pm, Argentina takes on New Zealand at 2.42pm and Australia battles Kenya at 3.04pm.