The 12th-ranked Canadians are tied with seventh-ranked Argentina at 1-5 in sixth place in the eight-team Group E in second-round play. The two teams meet Wednesday in a showdown to see who advances to the final round in Tokyo beginning Saturday.

``It's going to be really tough,'' said Canadian coach Glenn Hoag. ``Right now, the momentum has really been going down the last three matches and it's going to be up to the guys to do it.

``Frankly, I've looked for solutions in every (technical) aspect. It's more by discipline and the fact that we've got to battle our way there that we'll get this victory.''

Canada has lost all three of its second-round contests, including a streak of nine sets in a row, following a 3-2 start in the first round _ the two wins against teams that did not advance were dropped from the record.

``I thought we'd come out with a lot more fire (today) and we didn't,'' said veteran Paul Duerden. ``Honestly, I don't know which Team Canada will show up (Wednesday). I'm hoping that it's a team that's going to fight. I'm going to try, if I'm out there. But as for the group, I don't know. Today was just awful.''

Duerden, with 14 kills, was the only Canadian to have more than eight kills for the second game in a row.

As the team's record in the second round has plummeted, so too have its blocking numbers. Canada has had just 15 block kills in its three second-round matches, while captain Murray Grapentine alone recorded 20 in the competition's first four games.

``Our spirit hasn't been there,'' Grapentine said. ``I think right now if we don't make a sideout, or if we give up points, our shoulders drop and we don't have the same attitude we had at the start of the tournament where we're going to get back at it and get the next point.''