Samoa A begin their preparations for the Pacific Rugby Cup tournament on Friday with a run-out against the New South Wales Waratahs in Tamworth.
Samoa finished second in last year's competition, behind the Fiji Warriors.
Returning coach Selefuti Patu says they've lost a number of players from last year's squad to overseas contracts which, while a shame for his team, is good news for Samoan rugby.
"That's the whole aim of this - we like to promote our players from the islands to come overseas and to learn more rugby so they can be in our Manu Samoa and we like our local boys to be in that area."
Following Friday's match Samoa A play Sydney University next week, before their opening PRC match against the Brumby Runners team in Canberra.
