Parramatta back-rower Kautoga, who was part of the side that nearly upset Australia last weekend, will face the Kiwis on the Gold Coast on Saturday with the winner set to advance to the semi-final stages of the World Cup.
Kautoga - who enters the final 12 months of his Eels contract on Sunday - feels like he has only just scratched the surface of his ability, after being forced to take an eight-month hiatus from the game while at the Tigers in 2022 under Maguire.
The 24-year-old was born in Fiji before moving to Australia as an 11-year-old, but when the Tigers offered him a new deal he was unable to put pen to paper because he didn't yet to receive permanent residency.
"I had visa issues, which kind of set me back because I wasn't able to play or train," Kautoga told AAP.
"I didn't really know what to do at the time, as a young kid all I ever wanted to do was just play rugby league.
"I couldn't really enter the club or anything so I was just doing my own training, doing road runs.
"Michael Maguire was the Tigers coach at the time and he would keep messaging me and reminding me saying, 'soon, everything's going to work out for you' ... That was the light at the end of the tunnel for me."
Kautoga made his NRL debut later that year but only once the Tigers had parted ways with Maguire, who went on to win a premiership with Brisbane, a State of Origin series with NSW and the 2023 Pacific Championships with New Zealand.
Maguire played a big role in rejuvenating the Kiwis squad that successor Stacey Jones has named to face Fiji.
The two sides have only met twice before, with Fiji famously claiming a 4-2 win in the quarter-finals of the 2017 World Cup.
"I was watching that game at home with mum and dad, and I guess that kind of I makes you want to be a part of it," Kautoga said.
"They had the same thing as us, backs against the wall, nobody really gave them a chance.
"They've got a big pack in the middle but I know our boys are going to be up for the challenge again."
