Tens of thousands of Messi fans are expected to make the trip up from Argentina to this southern port city for the closing Group F clash, where a draw would secure the Nigerians the all important runners-up spot after Peter Odemwingie's goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Cuiaba on Saturday ended the west Africans' nine-match World Cup winless run.
Defeat to Argentina, who sit top with wins over Iran and Bosnia, could still see Stephen Keshi's men prolong their stay in Brazil, if Iran fail to beat Bosnia up in Salvador.
And Fifa might even have to get out their straws for the drawing of lots should Iran win 1-0 and Nigeria lose by the same score, leaving the sides inseparable on points, goal difference, number of goals and head-to-head.
Messi – who turned 27 on Tuesday – and his teammates have a significant incentive to notch up their third win here and top the table as that would mean likely avoiding Didier Deschamps's impressive France for a second-round date instead with Group E's runners-up, likely to be Ecuador or Switzerland, although Honduras could still snatch that honour.
The two-time former champions may have failed to set the 2014 World Cup stage alight in their opening forays but Messi predicts the Argentine pot is slowly coming to the boil.
"We are not showing what we can do, but with a run of games I think we will get there," said Barcelona's four-time World Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, Ashkan Dejagah is confident Iran can end their goal-drought by beating Bosnia to reach the last 16.
"We still have a chance to go through and who would have thought our World Cup would last longer than England and Spain," said Dejagah.
Honduras aiming to provoke another Swiss miss
Switzerland have a chance to put right their dramatic failure of 2010 on Wednesday when they again face Honduras for a place in the World Cup knockouts.
The situation is eerily similar to four years ago, when the Swiss were in contention for the last 16 but missed out when they drew their last group game with the Central American minnows.
This time around, having scaled the Fifa rankings to the sixth spot, expectations are high for Ottmar Hitzfeld's respected side.
But confidence was hit in last week's 5-2 rout by France, while Honduras broke a 32-year World Cup finals goal drought in their 2-1 loss to Ecuador.
Meanwhile, France are vowing no let up of their thrilling attacking style as they seek to storm into the last 16 against Ecuador.
And France full-back Mathieu Debuchy says his teammates will aim to finish with a flourish to maintain momentum.
"We need to avoid taking our foot off the gas even if there is not a huge amount at stake," said Debuchy.
"We want to win this match and maintain our positive dynamic in order to prepare well for what is to come."
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