Manu Samoa coach Titimaea Tafua is confident his team can quell the emotion of the occasion when they open their Pacific Nations Cup campaign against Japan in Tokyo tonight.
It will be the first test match played in Japan since the devastating earthquake and tsunami which struck the country in March.
Vinnie Wylie reports.
"The majority of the tournament has been shifted to Fiji but today's clash between Samoa and Japan will go ahead in Tokyo as a gesture of goodwill. Samoa coach Titimaea Tafua says Japan are a good team with a quick backline and strong scrummagers. But he's confident his side, even with a few injury withdrawals, is capable of overcoming the emotion of the occasion and coming out on top. Manu Samoa have the recent edge over the Cherry Blossoms after edging their encounter at the same venue 13-10 last October."
