Papua New Guinea have lost only one home Test in the past decade, giving Samoa a demanding challenge in Port Moresby next Saturday.
Samoa, runners-up four years ago, head there after beating France 78-4 at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta on Friday.
The group-stage match starts at 2.25pm local time, when heat and humidity can be oppressive, particularly for midday games.
Jarome Luai and Brian To'o will play in Port Moresby for the first time since signing with the PNG Chiefs, who begin their inaugural NRL season in 2028.
Samoa coach Ben Gardiner said the team was ready for the unfamiliar atmosphere and a potentially hostile crowd.
"We're looking forward to going and doing something different, the chaos, it's exciting," Gardiner said.
"We've got some guys that are really loved over there and you've got to lean into that."
Gardiner said Samoan supporters in Papua New Guinea had already offered their backing, although he expected many fans to support the Kumuls.
"I think that's something that we're going to do next week, lean into the fact that we expect to have a nice big crowd and a lot of them will probably be against us."
Samoan captain Junior Paulo, who was born in Western Sydney, said the conditions would feel familiar.
"We get the heat out west, which is kind of similar," Paulo said.
A victory could almost secure Samoa's place in the knockout rounds, where they would likely meet New Zealand or Australia in a semifinal.
Gardiner praised Australia's opening trans-Tasman Test, but said Samoa needed to focus on its own preparation and connection.
"We've got to focus on what we've got to do in the own camp and make sure that the connection is what we need so when we hit the hit the field, we can be at the best."