They might be a team of stars tipped for big things but Tongan players still have plenty to prove to coach Kristian Woolf.
Reputations will mean nothing tonight in a trial game against Italy at what will be a typically greasy Callendar Park.
Woolf said the match would be crucial to deciding just how he will split hairs to find the best 17 for the October 29 opener with Scotland.
“The trial will be very important for a few spots in particular and these teams generally tend to pick themselves and blokes bobble up and perform, whether it be at training or a trial game,” he said. “There’s always an opportunity to put yourself ahead of someone else.
“There’s a few big names in there obviously but I’ve said a number of times that’s not necessarily going to mean success either, we’ve still got to work really hard.”
There might not be much room for attacking flair in the wet but conditions will suit Woolf’s plans to nail down a solid defensive pattern.
“What we have worked on pretty hard is just trying to get our defence right and base our game a little bit on defending well first, so that’s probably the one thing I’d like to get out of it,” he said.
“I want to see them get out there and back their skills a little bit as well and play some footy and use it as a real good opportunity to play together as a team but also blow the cobwebs out individually.”
A small but vocal army of supporters will bring pride and passion to the Tongan charge tonight, but there’s little doubt Italy will be the crowd favourites. The Azzurri team includes Innisfail junior Ryan Ghietti, one of four Northern Pride players in action for Italy.
Attempts to contact Italian players and coaches were unsuccessful.