Tonga not underestimating Samoa ahead of weekend clash

Celebrations are still at a high for the Mate Ma'a Tonga team for this weekend's clash against Samoa, but the players are well aware of the serious threat Toa Samoa poses as an opponent.

Samoa lost 38 - 8 to the Kiwis last weekend, while Tonga thrashed Scotland 50 - 4.

New South Wales hard-man Andrew Fifita says they're definitely not underestimating Toa Samoa.

"They're pretty packed. They're a good strong team and that's going to really challenge us," he says. "In saying that, we'll be ready for it and we can't wait for Saturday."

Former Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei says although Tonga won their last game convincingly, they know Samoa won't back down.

"Samoa's going to be a different ball game so we're going to have to play better than how we did last week," he says. "We're just going to have to keep grinding away and just keep to our strengths."

Both teams have announced their starting line-up. Manu Vatuvei and Konrad Hurrell are out this week. David Fusitu'a is in at wing and Solomone Kata at centre.

PRN rpeorts Toa Samoa have slightly shuffled their starting line-up as well with Zane Musgrove and Fa'amanu Brown in as reserves and Ricky Leutele in as wing for Peter Mata'utia. 

The big game goes down at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium on Saturday 4.