Suva FC and Team Wellington are both looking to go one step better in their sophomore appearance in the Oceania Champions League football competition.
Suva FC in action during the 2015 Oceania Champions League. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Suva finished third in a difficult group last year, alongside Amicale FC, Western United and eventual winners Auckland City.
Team Wellington topped their group before losing the grand final in agonising fashion in a penalty shootout.
Wellington have high hopes of going one better this time around, after beating Auckland City in the New Zealand club final last month.
Suva are also the national champions in Fiji and club President Mahend Prasad says they're taking it all one game at a time.
"Wellington City is the first in our pool and we will play the final game of the tournament and as it comes we will take."
"And definitely we will field the strongest team against Wellington City and we hope the result comes in favour of us and we are definitely sure the boys will show a great performance against Wellington City," he said.
Team Wellington's Luis Corrales has a shot on goal in the final of the 2016 ASB Premiership. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
In the later game today, newcomers AS Lossi from New Caledonia take on 2010 Oceania champions Hekari United from Papua New Guinea.
Auckland City
Auckland City open their quest for a sixth consecutive Oceania title tomorrow against Solomon Warriors.
In the other Group A encounter, Papua New Guinea champions Lae City Dwellers will make their tournament debut against Vanuatu's Amicale FC.
Head coach Peter Gunemba said defending their National Soccer League title was a massive boost to their Oceania aspirations.
"I had a dream that one day if I coach a NSL team to the O-League I will use most of my players (from PNG) - maybe 99 percent or 90 percent - that is my dream and it came true," he said
I haven't been to O-League before but I have watched through the videos and through the TV the performance of the teams that the squad is facing in the O-League competition and I have a fair idea (what to expect) and when I look at my players I still have confidence in them."
Amicale FC have recruited players from Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Scotland, New Zealand and Solomon Islands to boost their title hopes.
