The 2017 hosts finished bottom of the Preliminary competition 12 months ago, losing all three matches against the club champions from Cook Islands, American Samoa and Samoa.
RNZ reports player-coach Kilifi Uele said the team has been training since October and feel much better prepared this time around.
"We have to be more organised to dominate the game. We're preparing the team to be well organised, especially when we are attacking and also defending," he said.
