NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia — Belgium’s credentials as a genuine outside bet for World Cup success face a tougher examination against Tunisia Saturday after a relatively sedate opening against Panama.

Roberto Martinez’s star-studded squad emerged as 3-0 winners in their opening Group G game in Sochi Monday but will likely find Tunisia a far more robust and defensively astute opponent when they meet at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow.

It will mean the creative acumen of captain Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne will be vital if Belgium are to move closer to the second round and effectively end Tunisia’s tournament.

Both Premier League standouts took a while to get going in Monday’s match but their obvious ability eventually made the requisite impact.

“The first game at any tournament is always a little tough and the heat also tired us out but after rest we’ll be ready to roll again,” Chelsea playmaker Hazard said in the build-up to the weekend’s clash.

De Bruyne set up the second goal for Romelu Lukaku with a characteristically innovative pass and the Manchester City midfielder said Wednesday he saw that as his primary task at the tournament.

“I have to get the strikers into situations where they can score. If I do that, then I know I’m doing a good job,” he told reporters as Belgium were given a surprise day off.

Tunisia has a well-earned reputation in African football for its ability to close down matches through a combination of bloody-minded defense, time-wasting tactics and gamesmanship.

That approach almost paid off against England in Volgogradn Monday as it frustrated Gareth Southgate’s men for most of the second half after it pulled level 10 minutes before the break from the penalty spot.

However, its well-organized rearguard eventually caved in when it conceded from a late set-piece to lose 2-1 and will need to employ more ambitious tactics against the Belgians to keep alive its World Cup hopes.

Against England, it hardly made any attacking effort once they equalized, but to stay in contention they will need to end a 12-match winless streak at the World Cup finals, stretching back 40 years.

“I think we will have Belgium’s respect and we have our own ambitions of getting past the first round which Tunisia has never done before,” coach Nabil Maaloul said.

The experienced Oussama Haddadi is set to replace Ali Maaloul at left-back in the Tunisian defense and Martinez saw plenty of danger for his team in the north Africans’ opening 2-1 defeat to England.

“They have a lot of bravery and they’re very dynamic,” Martinez said.

“The players have a good understanding between each others and they can bring energy and intensity on counter-attacks. They play direct, efficient football.”

“We knew it before the tournament. People say that Belgium would win every game but it’s not that simple,” said Hazard.

“We want to win, we won the first game and have another one Saturday against Tunisia. We take it game after game.”

Belgium, ranked third in the world, reached the quarterfinals of Brazil 2014 and are aiming to match its previous best of reaching the semifinals at Mexico 1986.

There was some good news for Martinez on Thursday when Barcelona center-back Thomas Vermaelen trained for the first time in Russia.

Likewise Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, who like Vermaelen is 32, is expected to return. — Agencies