Both teams have 11 points, while pool leader Brazil has 21 points. Poland and Finland will fight hard for second place in the pool and a possibility to get to the Final Six in Belgrade. After the matches in Tampere the teams move to Bydgoszcz, Poland for their final Intercontinental Round matches the following weekend.

"These 4 matches versus Poland will be a great test for our team. The most difficult thing after our victory against Brazil will be to be mentally ready for a new fight," said Finnish coach Mauro Berruto.

"I'm sure on Friday we'll need to play again at 120 percent. We must know that and be ready for the first match. Sport is amazing and simultaneously cruel because when you achieve something, the next day you must be ready for something more difficult."

"It's wonderful to have this opportunity to play 6 matches in a row (Brazil last week and Poland the next two weeks) facing the gold and silver medalists from the last World Championship (Japan 2006)."

"Our skin has to shiver because of that ... and because we know that next four matches against Poland will define who finishes in 2nd place in our pool and has the opportunity of winning the wild card to join the Final Round in Belgrade. It's marvelous to see Finland fighting for such a goal," Berruto said.