Toa Samoa technical advisor Nigel Vagana says tonight's Pacific rugby league test against Tonga has been 'a long time coming'.
The countries last met three years ago in Sydney, with Samoa prevailing 22-6 at Parramatta Stadium.
Former Kiwis internationals Junior Sa'u, Kalifa Fai Fai Loa, Roy Asotasi and Jeff Lima are all poised to make their Toa Samoa debut.
Nigel Vagana says it's special to see players connecting with their Pacific heritage.
"For a lot of these guys, you know they've never put on the blue jersey of Samoa before so for these guys it will be an emotional event for them. And I think the calibre of athletes that we have and just what they do day in day out at the NRL we're going to see a pretty good game of rugby league as well. So it's great to sell all the elements come in: from a cultural, from a professional, from a fan engaging, all coming together."
Nigel Vagana.
