The Fijian Drua have set a goal of making the playoffs in their inaugural campaign in the Australian National Rugby Championship.
Head coach Senirusi Serevakula unveiled his 26-man squad last night to contest the first two games away to Brisbane City and Melbourne Rising.
All of the players are locally based, including ten who have already played test rugby for the Flying Fijians.
The home kit for the Fijian Drua's debut season in the Australian NRC. Photo: Supplied/Fiji Rugby Union
Mr Serevakula said they had been in contact with some overseas-based Fijian players, who ended up signing for rival teams in the NRC and the New Zealand provincial competition.
But he had full confidence his squad will to rise to the occasion.
"Some of these players have been with me for the past three years as coach of the (Fiji) Warriors so we've been doing travelling also, playing overseas and playing here in the PRC."
"I just have to believe my players: impossible is nothing, it doesn't matter we're playing against Super Rugby players - we just have to be very smart and have confidence going into this tournament," he said.
Serevakula said it's a huge step up for his squad to be competing in a professional competition but they are setting their targets high.
"We want to make the finals but as a coach we will take one step at a time, one game at a time and then as we are reviewing what went wrong and do the work-ons from there, but the confidence and the talk in the team (is) that we really want to make it into the top four and be recognised in this first time in this competition," he said.
The Drua will make their NRC debut away to Brisbane City next weekend, with former Wallaby first five Quade Cooper among the headline names for the home side.
The Fijian side's first home match is in round three against New South Wales Country Eagles in Sigatoka.
