Cheika asks Australia to raise game for Argentina semi-final

Australia coach Michael Cheika says his team are ready for their World Cup semi-final encounter with Argentina and he has challenged his players to raise their game.

After beating England, Wales and Scotland in consecutive weekends, they take on more familiar opponents in fellow Rugby Championship contenders Argentina.

"I didn't imagine we'd be in this situation but now that we're here I want to make sure I do the best possible job for this team," Cheika said.

"Nothing is given to you in this game - you've got to earn everything. We have to improve on our performance on the field and that means myself and the coaches have to improve off the pitch.

"I believe a lot in this side and the players we have. The players have worked very hard and, while that doesn't mean anything in itself, it gives us the best opportunity to win that we could hope for.

"When the whistle blows, I feel we're as ready as we could be. Now it's time to get it on. We know we'll have to improve on everything we've done so far in this World Cup."

Australia have been given a double boost with the return from injury of both David Pocock and Israel Folau, who have recovered from calf and ankle injuries that kept them out of the epic quarter-final clash with Scotland.

"There's no risk with David. We've calculated where he's at. We always knew his injury would be around the seven or eight day mark," Cheika said.

"He actually did more training on Friday than we thought he would. Every day he'll get better.

"Mentally he's very strong and it would have been difficult to stop him even if he wasn't fit.

"We're more than comfortable that he's fit enough to do his job and do it very well.

"Folau has been involved in our last two training sessions. He's feeling better and is feeling better every day.

"He knows his body very well and is running pain free now, which is good. A player of his calibre will only enjoy these type of matches."