Papua New Guinea coach Adrian Lam says this weekend's annual clash against the Australian Prime Minister's XIII is a crucial test in the team's journey to next year's Rugby League World Cup.
The PNG squad had its first training run together on Monday, ahead of Sunday's match.
Adrian Lam says the fragile political situation in the country hasn't helped the teams development, with international matches hard to come by over the past couple of years.
Lam says that makes this game all the more important.
"We've got a lot of opportunity and potential here to develop the country in the next four years, with the funding from the Australian government in place already. Once we get our ship in order here, with the board and the politics, we can move forward but it is always an arm wrestle to try and get everything that you need but with Papua New Guinea being the only country in the world where it's the national sport, this one-off game against the Australian Prime Minister's 13 is massive for the country here and probably the biggest."
