Players vie for spots in Flying Fijians team

The battle for a spot in the Flying Fijians for the Pacific Nation Cup will start this afternoon with local based players playing in the Fiji Warriors and Fiji Barbarians team in the opening Pacific Rugby Cup game.

The Warriors are the defending champion from last year's tournament with players like Setefano Somoca, Vereniki Sauturaga, Leone Nakarawa, Mosese Volavola and Anthony Wise in the starting line up from the side that beat Upolu Samoa in the final last year.

Coach Inoke Male has five players with him that toured Northern hemisphere last November and Suva's Epeli Ruivadra is the only player in the starting lineup that has not played at top level rugby.

Male has opted for Dale Tonawai to captain the team ahead of Waisale Vatuvoka who will be at halfback and have a lot to prove playing against Kelemedi Bola and Emosi Vucago in the Barbarian side.

Tonawai has moved Flying Fijian open-side flanker Jimilai Naikadawa to the reserve bench and will team up with Wise and Volavola as the loose trio in the Warriors team.

Warriors Manager, Ratu Isei Rayawa said the pressure will be on his boys knowing they are the defending champion of the PRC and also playing this game as a trial for a place in the national side.