Read BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English's match preview here.

Samoa coach Steve Jackson thinks Scotland vice-captain Greig Laidlaw's public criticism of his players will be the extra incentive they need to ensure an upset.

Rey Lee-Lo and Motu Matu'u miss out through suspension and Laidlaw said they deserved to be banned as they were guilty of "two clear head shots - and pretty brutal ones at that" against Russia.

"We know that there's been things put to the media by people in the Scottish squad around talking to the referees about tackles and all that sort of stuff," Jackson says.

"Thanks for doing that, because that just motivates our players a lot more."

Image source, Getty Images

It's a closed roof scenario at the Kobe Misaki Stadium for this match. It should create a noisier atmosphere- just ask anyone who's visited the Millennium Stadium in such a scenario- and will also surely impact the movement of the ball in the air.

Image source, Getty Images

Samoa are without some their most important players as they aim to upset Scotland, without even considering their financial and other disadvantages.

Rey Lee-Lo, the centre, and Motu Matu'u, the hooker, are both banned after their reckless tackles against Russia. Their number eight, Afa Amosa, is out of the tournament with a knee injury. Scrum-half Dwayne Polataivao, scorer of two tries against Australia in a warm-up game in early September, hasn't recovered from a concussion sustained against the Russians.

However, they are bolstered by the rapid return from injury of both flanker Piula Faasalele, who broke his arm two months ago, and captain Jack Lam, with coach Steve Jackson describing them as "two guys with the highest pain tolerance in the world".

Image source, Getty Images

There have been a few high profile casualties in terms of team selection after the thumping by Ireland. The Scotland captain of just two years ago John Barclay isn't even in the match-day squad as the back-row is completely re-shaped with Hamish Watson going home injured.

Magnus Bradbury is at blindside flanker, the impressive Jamie Ritchie at openside and Blade Thomson at number eight, with Ryan Wilson dropping to the bench.

In the backs Chris Harris replaces Duncan Taylor at outside centre, with 22-year-old Darcy Graham in for the experienced Tommy Seymour on the right wing.

Glasgow trio Zander Fagerson, George Horne and Adam Hastings are added to the replacements.

Image source, Getty Images

We are just an hour from kick-off, but there is still time for you to listen to the latest BBC Scotland Rugby World Cup podcast with Andy Burke and Tom English. Go, go, go...

RUGBY WORLD CUP PODCAST

Image source, BBC/Getty

After being thumped 27-3 by Ireland in their Pool A opener, Scotland knew they would be facing three must-win games to reach the quarter-finals. However, Japan's shock victory over Ireland on Saturday complicates things slightly for Gregor Townsend's side.

The onus is now on them to win with a four-try bonus point today and against Russia and Japan to give themselves the best chance to go through. Defeat, and it's all over.

Scotland: Hogg; Graham, Harris, Johnson, Maitland; Russell, Laidlaw; Dell, McInally, Nel, Gilchrist, Gray, Bradbury, Ritchie, Thomson.

Replacements: Brown, Reid, Fagerson, Cummings, Wilson, Horne, Hastings, Taylor.

Samoa: Tim Nanai-Williams, Belgium Tuatagaloa, Alapati Leuia, Henry Taefu, Ed Fidow, Tusi Pisi, Melan Matavao, Logovi’i Mulipola, Ray Niuia, Michael Alaalatoa, Filo Paulo, Kane Le’aupepe, Chris Vui, TJ Ioane, Jack Lam

Replacements: Seilala Lam, Paul Alo-Emile, Jordan Lay, Piula Faasalele, Josh Tyrell, Pele Cowley, Ulupano Seuteni, Kieron Fonotia

It's crunch time in Kobe as Scotland take on Samoa in a crunch Pool A match. We'll have updates for you and you can listen to commentary on both BBC Radio Scotland 810MW and online as well as Radio 5 Live. You can get both at the top of this page from 10:30.

Image source, Getty Images