The message to expectant hosts Lithuania is simple. Beware of the underdogs.
Along with Finland, the only other team at the tournament to have truly surpassed all expectations and defy the non-believers is Macedonia.
Not surprisingly, Lithuania are favourites to win this game. They're on home soil and will face an opponent ravaged in unchartered waters, having never previously reached this stage of a major tournament.
Macedonia will also probably be without the extensive experience of
Todor Gechevski while both Predrag Samradziski (knee) and Bo McCalebb (back) have been struggling to shake off injuries.
Nevertheless, with Lithuania within touching distance of the Semi-Finals, perhaps the podium and, at the very least, a coveted spot for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the worse thing the hosts can do is to take this game for granted.
For Macedonia have an incredible capacity to keep games tight as they once again
showed against Russia on Monday night and will fight for every ball.