The teams are just coming out onto the pitch, so all that is left is the pre-match rituals and we will be underway.

Maggie Alphonsi
2014 England World Cup winner on BBC iPlayer

The pressure lies with New Zealand. They are defending champions, their first two games haven't necessarily been perfect so there is expectation on them to deliver.

There is no pressure on Ireland, they just need to turn up and do what they can do. They probably feel like whoever they play in the quarter-finals they can beat them so they just need to play and put on a good show.

Ireland's Stacey Flood says she will be ready to put her "best foot forward" if asked to move to out-half against New Zealand.

Selected at full-back, Flood is the most likely candidate to switch to the half-back role should starter Dannah O'Brien be unable to finish the game as neither Enya Breen nor Nicole Fowley are named among the replacements.

A former Gaelic footballer with a strong left boot, Flood has experience in the number 10 jersey. Although she hopes a change of position during Sunday's game with the Black Ferns is not required, she will be ready to go if called upon.

"Dannah is such an incredible player, you never know what her next move will be," Flood said.

"Hopefully she keeps steering the ship and it won't be needed, but if it is, we have contingency plans for everything and I can put the best foot forward. I have the girls around me, so you're not there alone and have to make all the decisions."

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Scrum-half Emily Lane says Ireland are "raring to go" and "looking forward to the challenge" of facing defending champions New Zealand.

Both sides have already reached the quarter-finals after winning their opening two matches with bonus points, but the winner of Sunday's game will top the group.

"It's great that we have qualified but we all want to go out this weekend and perform, put our hand up and try to top the pool," said Lane.

"We just want to show the world that we're capable of competing with the top-class teams in the world like New Zealand, who have won the World Cup six times.

"They are a world-class team and we respect that so we want to bring our best foot forward going into this game."

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Ireland enjoyed sizable support in their previous World Cup games and it seems today is no different with the 'Green Wave' rolling into Brighton.

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Ireland's Edel McMahon feels New Zealand will "definitely" have revenge on their minds.

During last year's WXV1 in Vancouver Ireland stunned the Black Ferns late on, with a last-gasp Erin King try and Dannah O'Brien conversion securing a 29-27 win over the world champions.

Although both sides have made a raft of changes for the match, McMahon believes Ireland have gained the "respect" of their rivals.

"I'm sure they felt from the last outing they took us for granted more than they wanted to," said the co-captain.

"We can never control what the opposition is going to feel against us, but only control how we take the game and prepare.

"Leading into this World Cup, we've started to gain respect - where this Irish team is coming from, it's not unexpected teams will take us more seriously."

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Ireland wing Anna McGann says "anything is possible" for her side against New Zealand but that they need to be "more clinical".

Scott Bemand's side will meet the World Cup holders in their final Pool C game on Sunday, with the winners of that game securing top spot and potentially a kinder quarter-final draw.

And while McGann is confident they can shock New Zealand, she knows Ireland will have to improve upon their display in their 43-27 win against Spain.

"Yeah definitely [Ireland can win], we didn't just come here to show up, we came here to compete, and we want to be in that grand final in London, so anything is possible," she told BBC Sport NI.

"We need to hold onto the ball and be more clinical in the contact zone. We were disappointed in ourselves at times [against Spain]. There were a lot of momentum shifts and I think we could make it easier for ourselves."

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Ireland's 'Green Wave' has been the team's "16th player" throughout the World Cup, according to scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly.

In the victories against Japan and Spain in Northampton, Ireland enjoyed considerable support from fans based in England and also from many who have travelled from home to cheer on Scott Bemand's side.

On Sunday, they face defending champions New Zealand to decide the winner of Pool C at a sold-out Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, which has a capacity of just under 32,000.

Once again, the Ireland fans are expected to turn out in force and Reilly says that backing is a "lift" for the team.

"It's like playing with 16 players when you have the crowd behind you," the 24-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

"It lifts you in moments when you might feel extra tired or have a lack of focus for a second. You see someone in the crowd in green and it lifts you up."

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It will be less of a 'Green Wave' for Ireland today, but more of a white and burgundy as they will wear their change strip.

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Injury kept Sam Monaghan out of Ireland's historic win against New Zealand last year but says it's "great to be involved" for today's Pool C decider.

Monaghan was withdrawn after 10 minutes in last Sunday's win against Spain having picked up a knock to the hip, but that was mere precaution and reports she is ready to go in the second row alongside Ruth Campbell.

Watching on from the sideline in Vancouver last year was a bittersweet moment for the co-captain as although delighted with the result, there was disappointment not to play her part.

The New York-born 32-year-old who grew up in Meath has her opportunity to go up against the world champions on Sunday and like her team-mates, is "excited" at the prospect.

"I would have been gutted to miss this one, especially after Vancouver when the girls put in a historic win," Monaghan told BBC Sport NI.

"You've a bit of a heavy heart as you're so proud but in the depths of depression with injury.

"It was such an amazing win as they played with such bravery and heart, so it's great to be involved to give it a go on Sunday."

Read more here

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Ireland should take confidence from their win over New Zealand in WXV1 last September as they prepare to face the defending champions in the match which will decide the winners of World Cup Pool C on Sunday.

If they didn't have that victory under their belt I think this game might be a bit more daunting for the players but I think they will want to put a stamp on this to prove that it wasn't just a one-off win.

The Irish squad will want to show that this is where this team is at, at a level where they can compete with previous World Cup winners.

It doesn't surprise me that they have selected a strong team and that proves they are really going for it.

They aren't thinking about next week's quarter-finals and they want to top the pool. I think that's the smart way to approach it.

Read more of Nichola Fryday's column here

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There is a late change to the Ireland team with Ellena Perry ruled out through injury with Niamh O’Dowd promoted to the front row and Siobhan McCarthy on the bench.

Perry picked up a knock in training but her withdrawal is reported as precautionary and is likely to be fit for next week's quarter-finals.

Initially, there were six personnel changes from last week's victory over Spain, with one positional change as back row Grace Moore moving from number eight to openside flanker.

Wing Beibhinn Parsons comes in, along with scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly, while among the forwards hooker Neve Jones, second row Ruth Campbell, co-captain Edel McMahon and number eight Brittany Hogan are all drafted in.

Anna McGann, Cliodhna Moloney, Eimear Corri-Fallon and Claire Boles move to the replacements' bench.

New Zealand head coach Allan Bunting has has also named a strong side.

For the second match running, young stars Jorja Miller and Braxton Sorensen-McGee move positions, with Miller switching back to open-side flanker and her teammate heading to the wing after shinning at full-back last week.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe will carry a threat from the wing having become the Black Ferns' all-time leading try-scorer in last week's win against Japan.

Ireland: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan (co-capt); Grace Moore, Edel McMahon (co-capt), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Siobhan McCarthy, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corr-Fallon, Claire Boles, Emily Lane, Nancy McGillivray, Anna McGann.

New Zealand: Renee Holmes; Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Stacey Waaka, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i Sylvia Brunt, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe; Ruahei Demant (co-capt), Risaleaana Pouri-Lane; Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale; Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Alana Bremner; Layla Sae, Jorja Miller, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u.

Replacements: Vici-Rose Green, Kate Henwood, Amy Rule, Laura Bayfield, Kennedy Tukuafu (co-capt), Maia Joseph, Theresa Setefano, Ayesha Leti-I’iga.

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It's crunch time for Ireland and New Zealand in Brighton as they get ready to decide who will to Pool C.

Both sides have dismissed Japan and Spain to ensure they will be in next week's quarter-finals, but maintaining momentum heading into the knockout phase and securing - in theory anyway - a less tricky assignment is the prize on offer.

The full house signs are up at Brighton & Hove Albion's stadium with just under 32,000 expected to attend as Scott Bemand's side seek for a repeal of last year's stunning win over the Black Ferns in WXV1.

However, the defending world champions will not be keen on such a scenario and have a much different look to that day in Vancouver.

Kick-off is just 45 minutes away...

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