Samoa, the last of the minnows to qualify for the 2008 World Cup, believe they can make the biggest impact in Australia.

The Pacific Islanders narrowly missed out on automatic qualification but claimed the 10th and last spot thanks to a 38-16 win over Lebanon in the repechage final in Featherstone on Wednesday.

They will line up alongside Tonga and Ireland in Group C confident that, with an array of former New Zealand internationals at their disposal, they can go on to surpass their previous World Cup best - a quarter-final appearance in 2000.

Boosted by the availability of a host of senior Kiwis, including captain Nigel Vagana and Super League duo Ali Lauitiiti (Leeds) and Harrison Hansen (Wigan), they already look capable of topping their group.

With the likes of David Solomona (Bradford) and Francis Meli (St Helens), two of four survivors from their 66-10 quarter-final defeat by Australia in Watford seven years ago, and Wigan's Iafeta Paleaaesina, to come in, they boast realistic hopes of a semi-final place.

"There are guys who qualify for a whole range of countries," said coach John Ackland.

"We won't be going out begging people to play - but we're there if anybody wants to play for us.

"They'll take their chance to be selected on form, the same as anybody else."

As Western Samoa, the islanders made a big impact in the 1995 World Cup - beating France 56-10 in Cardiff and pushing Wales all the way in a memorable match in front of a crowd of 15,385 in Swansea.

Rugby league almost died out on the island in the wake of the financially disastrous 2000 World Cup, but a domestic competition was revived this year and provided five players for Samoa's current squad.

A generally disappointing showing by Samoa in the recent rugby union World Cup has given Ackland's men the opportunity to make a lasting impression both in Australia and in the Pacific.

"We've got a unique opportunity," said Ackland, the assistant coach of New Zealand Warriors.

"We can build something from the ground up.

"We've got the potential to be a very competitive country. If we get five or six countries competitive, the game will grow internationally. The boys spoke about that last week.

"There is probably a Polynesian population in Australia of 200,000, so you can start to wield some economic clout. There is potential there for that."

Wigan back rower Hansen, 22, who made his debut for Samoa in their 42-10 win over the United States last Friday, is convinced the star-studded islanders can claim a few notable scalps in Australia.

"I'm sure we can make an impact," he said.

"There are a lot more Samoans out there - and they're quality players.

"I think everyone is going to be having a good look at us. We'll be a force."

Hansen made his New Zealand debut against Great Britain last year but qualifies for Samoa through grandparents on both sides of his family and has no regrets over his change of allegiance.

"Samoa are a close-knit family," he said.

"I feel really comfortable. I'm proud to be Samoan and I want to take them forward next year."

Joy in the Samoan camp contrasted sharply with desolation among the Lebanese, whose patched-up side produced a spirited but ultimately fruitless second-half fightback in Featherstone.

With a big expatriate population in Sydney and a wealth of experienced players to choose from, coach Darren Maroon believed his side would have been a big attraction in the World Cup - but he insists the hard work that has gone into introducing rugby league in the Middle East will not go to waste.

"We've worked pretty hard over the last 10 years now to establish rugby league in Lebanon," he said.

"This will take a little bit to get over, but certainly we have the talent in both countries. This might seem like a setback. But it has given us good exposure, and I think the character of the side will keep us in good stead for the future."

With rumblings of discontent still apparent in Papua New Guinea over the decision to place them in the "super pool" with the big guns Australia, England and New Zealand, Lebanon say they are ready to step in at short notice if there is a boycott.

"We would give our right arm to play in the World Cup in Sydney next year in front of the majority of the home crowd," said Maroon.

Wales, semi-finalists in both 1995 and 2000, were the other high-profile nation to miss out on a place next year. But Richard Lewis, vice-chairman of the International Federation, has defended the decision to cut the tournament from 16 teams to 10.

"It should be very difficult to get a World Cup," he said.

"The qualifying competition has been a worthwhile tournament in its own right."

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