Toa Samoa Residents coach says next weekend's match against the United States is a chance for local players to press their claims ahead of the Four Nations.
The Toa won last year's match in Hawaii 34-10 but the USA will be match-hardened this time around with two matches scheduled in the build-up to next weeks clash.
The Residents squad also includes a couple of players based in New Zealand and Ponifasio Vasa says it's an opportunity for the local players to impress.
"We have to win. Secondly, we're looking at opportunities for the local-based players to get to the next level. This year is obviously the Four Nations [against Australia, New Zealand and England] but we still haven't heard from our executive whether there are spots for residents, but we know that if we do well there might be a possibility for us to get one or two spots but the challenge is on us, on our shoulders, to make sure we do our best to enable us to get to the next level".
Ponifasio Vasa says he understands the American team might have some players from last year's World Cup squad in their line-up.