The Polish team will make the trip to the city's Spodek Hall for the first time this tournament as they bid for just their second-ever World Championship title on the 40th anniversary of their first.

That victory in 1974, at the World Championship in Mexico, was won during a golden era of Polish volleyball which saw them pick up the Olympic crown just two years later in Montreal.

Despite falling out of favour in the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, the Polish team has seen a resurgence in the past decade, marked by a World League crown in 2012.

They come into their semi-final encounter with Germany on the back of a record-breaking four consecutive five-set victories, including wins over three-time defending champions Brazil and London 2012 Olympic gold medallists Russia.

The Poles will be seen as favourites against their German opponents, especially in sight of their raucous home support, with the latter a somewhat surprise feature in this semi-final.

Although a fifth-place finish was an impressive feat at London 2012, the result was a high in terms of major tournaments of late.

Gold at the 2009 European League is the only major medal to speak of since the reunification of Germany in 1990, with a World Championship title for East Germany in 1970 the nation's top honour.

The world number 10 ranked team will be no pushovers, however, with just three losses to their name throughout these Championships.

Despite their earlier loss to Poland, Brazil will still be considered favourites to lift the World Championship title here in Katowice ©Getty Images



Despite their Round III loss to hosts Poland, three-time defending champions Brazil are still strong favourites to lift the title for a fourth successive year here, and will be confident of victory in tomorrow's Super Saturday.

The two-time Olympic champions had a 100 per cent record coming into the third round with their loss to Poland the only blemish on an otherwise perfect slate.

They bounced back from that loss with an impressive 3-0 victory over Olympic champions Russia in the final Round III fixture, putting an end their medal prospects, while booking their spot alongside France in the semi-finals.

The French team recorded a national-high ninth World Championship victory with their defeat of Iran in the final Pool fixture of the tournament.

They are considered the surprise package at this event having battled through to the semi-finals on the back of just two defeats, one to hosts Poland and the other to three-time world champions Italy.

They will have a tough task taking on the Brazilians in the opening semi-final fixture, but they, more than anyone, have proved that anything is possible at the top end of international game play.

Action tomorrow will be kicked off by the fifth-sixth place playoff between Iran and Russia, both of whom finished bottom of their respective Round III pools.

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