Papua New Guinea 9s team is ready to take on the Pacific Games against five other nations.
The rugby league 9s competition runs over July 11-12 at the Sir John Guise Outdoor Stadium.
The 15 man squad is in full competition mode as 13 of the players come from the SP Hunters who are striving for their 10th consecutive win this weekend in the Intrust Super Cup.
PNG 9s coach Michael Marum, who is also the coach for Hunters, said he has looked at the Pacific Games draw and rules, and has worked out a way to manage it as best as possible.
PNG takes on Tonga in their first match on 11 July. On the same day, they take on Solomon Islands in their second match followed by Samoa and Cook Islands.
Their last match will be against Fiji on 12 July before the finals.
Marum added that the PNG team has to start off with unlimited interchange.
“That will work well for us so that our players are not exposed to long periods on the field during the Games,” Marum said.
The team’s coaching staff includes strength and conditioning coach Jason Tassell as trainer while Solomon Kuluniasi is the team manager.