The Papua New Guinea Hunters captain Ase Boas is being urged to lift his game as the Intrust Super Cup rugby league champions reach a crucial juncture in their season.
PNG Hunters stand-off Ase Boas. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Melvin Levongo
Boas scored two tries on his return to the starting line-up last weekend as the Hunters beat Sunshine Coast Falcons in Port Moresby.
The 29-year-old suffered a bout of dengue fever earlier in the season and was a late call-up to the PNG Kumuls squad last month after initially being dropped due to a lack of form.
Hunters coach Michael Marum, who also oversees the national team, said Boas has been asked to put in some extra work in training in an effort to revive last season's title-winning performances.
"I think he's got the message now so he knows what we wanted out of him as a leader and also as a playmaker," he said.
"There's a bit, a lot of work that has to be done but we're happy with the performance last weekend...This weekend is going to be another good test for him if he can repeat the same performance."
The Hunters are just two points outside the top six but lie tenth overall because of a negative points differential.
Sunday's clash against high-flyers Redcliffe is the second in a run of five straight home games and Marum said with only eight rounds to play there's not much room for error.
"All throughout the next four weeks we're playing top six teams so it will be really tough. We just have to concentrate on one game at a time so this weekend (against Redcliffe) Dolphins - we know they had a big win last weekend against Wynnum but in saying that we've got some players back," he said.
"Adex Wera is going to be back from suspension so he's going to come off the bench, so Moses Meninga starts in the lock-forwards."