The Fiji men's football team has arranged two international friendly matches against Malaysia next month as it prepares for the Oceania World Cup qualifiers due to take place in March in Qatar.
Fiji Football Association chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf says it's important for the Bula Boys to play international matches against quality opponents ahead of the qualifiers.
The two matches will both be played at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.
Roy Krishna, in white, is Fiji's star player Photo: Supplied/Fiji FA
Malaysia is ranked 154th in the FIFA rankings while Fiji is 161st.
"The Malaysian national football team is willing to come to Fiji and play two matches," Yusuf said.
"We feel the friendlies that the national team will be playing are going to get them to gain a better understanding of what to do in different situations.
"The two friendly matches should be very helpful for the players to understand the individual tasks and roles of each footballer selected to represent the nation.
"It will also show them how to co-operate and work together as a team, both in attack and in defence.
"The fact that we are getting to play a team that is ranked higher than us in the FIFA rankings, will give us a good reading of where we stand at the moment."
Meanwhile, New Zealand will play Jordan and Uzbekistan in January and February in the United Arab Emirates as they warm-up for the Qatar qualifying competition.
Brazilian arrives in PNG to start stint with national team
Papua New Guinea's new men's football team head coach Marcos Gusmao has arrived in Port Moresby and has gone into quarantine.
The Brazilian was supposed to join the 30-man squad last week, however, due to delays with his electronic visa, he travelled this week.
Meanwhile, PNG Football Association general secretary Pius Letenge says a youth team has been assembled and would prepare for a trial match against the national team in the New Year.
Gusmao is expected to trim his 30-man squad to 23 players after some trial matches with local teams.
Tongan swimmers set new marks
Three Tongan swimmers set new national records at the World short course swimming championships in Abu Dhabi.
Finau Ohuafi set a new mark in the men's 100 metres butterfly; Charissa Panuve broke the women's 200 metre freestyle record, and Noelani Day smashed the national record in the women's 50 metres freestyle
Ohuafi and Panuve are currently on FINA Scholarships in Phuket, Thailand, while Day is studying at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles.
Next Fiji 7s coach likely to be foreigner
An overseas coach is expected to be the next Fiji Sevens coach.
The Fiji Rugby Union says a successful applicant has been identified and it hopes to make the announcement before the end of the year.
FRU Chief Executive, John O'Connor, said they're in the final stages of negotiations.
Some of the names that are believed to have applied for the coaching job include Waisale Serevi, Ben Gollings, and Osea Kolinisau.
Current Interim Coach Saiasi Fuli is expected to continue in his role with the Fijiana women's team.
Silktails to face-off against Hunters
The Suva-based Kaiviti Silktails will meet the PNG Hunters in a pre-season match next year.
The game has been confirmed by Silktails Chief Executive Steve Driscoll.
The match is scheduled for February 26th at Runaway Bay in Queensland.
Driscoll said it'll be a historic event when the two Pacific Rugby League sporting franchises play each other in Australia.
He hopes it will become an annual event.
The Silktails will meet the Burleigh Bears in its first pre-season match on February 9.