Argentina head coach Michael Cheika urged his players to defy the odds and seize the chance to make history as the first Argentina squad to reach the final of the rugby union World Cup.
The South Americans - who have contested all of the 10 tournaments - have reached the last four on two occasions.
In 2007 they lost to South Africa and in 2015 they went down to Australia.
On the eve of their semi-final against the three-time winners New Zealand, Cheika said: "History is not in our favour but it is up to us to change that. We have a chance to do that on Friday night and we will be ready."
Including the first game in October 1985 between the two sides, New Zealand have won 33 of the 36 Tests played. Argentina have prevailed twice and one match has been drawn.
"New Zealand have been playing for many years," added Cheika, who, as Australia boss, oversaw Argentina's demise in that 2015 semi-final.
Challenge
"They are the number one team in world rugby. We know the challenge they represent and this is the World Cup."
Previous clashes in the competition between the two sides have ended in Argentine failure. They were pulverized 46-15 in the group stages in the inaugural tournament in 1987.
And they lost 33-10 in the last eight in 2011. It was slightly closer in the defeat in the group stages at the 2015 competition where they went down 26-16 at Wembley Stadium.
"You've never heard us say we're favourites," said New Zealand boss Ian Foster.
"The stage gets bigger at this time in the tournament and you've got to grow your game. We know these games are do or die."
It looked like die during the closing stages of last Saturday's riveting quarter-final against Ireland. But New Zealand's defence managed to repel a 37-phase session of Irish pressure as they sought the game-winning try.
"That was the most proud All Blacks performance I’ve been part of," said New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith.
Intensity
"The build-up, the emotion, the game, the spectacle itself.
"It felt like that game went on for two days. That second-half felt like forever. But it was so much fun and intensity and two teams just not giving up."
The 28-24 victory sent New Zealand to the cusp of a fifth final. "Physical recovery is always important," added Foster.
"But so is mental recovery - how you switch off and come down from that high of a quarter-final victory.
"The best way to recover is to refocus on what the next challenge is, not to listen to too much praise, get softened because everyone is patting you on the back," Foster added.
"It's not a good place to be as a team. When you're clear about your goal for the week, your recovery comes on pretty quickly."
The winner will play England or South Africa in the final on 28 October at the Stade de France.
