New Zealand will not just be after a semifinal berth when it faces Fiji in the next round of the Rugby League World Cup, it will be aiming to avenge one of the worst losses in the nation's history.

In the only prior meeting between the two nations, the Bati downed the Kiwis in a shock 4-2 upset at the same stage of the 2017 tournament.

The tryless victory was the finest moment in the history of Fijian rugby league and marked the low point of a disastrous tournament for New Zealand. 

Five years later, a new-look Kiwi side is dreaming big and will settle for nothing less than world-champion status – but first, Michael Maguire's side must put the Pacific nation to the sword and it will be playing with a point to prove when the two teams meet on Sunday morning Australian time.

For Jordan Rapana, one of the few Kiwi survivors from the infamous loss in Wellington, the memories from the day still loom large.

"I remember it very vividly. All I can say is we have a much better team and coaching staff now than we did on that 2017 tour," Rapana said.

"I'll tell you this much – the World Cup I've had so far and the tour with the boys has been 20 million times better than that one.

"There's no bad feelings or bad blood. We're just a lot better team than we were then."

It is not just the Kiwi veterans who want to banish the memories of the Bati boilover. Hooker Brandon Smith was not even in the squad in 2017 but was still burned by the result.

"It wasn't what I wanted to see. As a proud Kiwi man, that's not it, bro," Smith said.

"It was very disappointing. Fiji played well that day and got the cookies, but we're not going to let that happen again."

After solid wins over Lebanon, Ireland and Jamacia, New Zealand is ready for a hard fight, and the Bati, with NRL stars like Api Koroisau, Maika Sivo and Viliame Kikau at their disposal, will certainly offer one.