The head coach of the Vodafone Fiji Bati, Wise Kativerata, has announced the squad for the upcoming match against the Cook Islands in the second round of the Pacific Bowl, set for this Saturday.
James Valevatu will take the starting position as hooker, stepping in for Penioni Tagituimua, who will now be on the bench. Veteran hooker Joe Lovodua is expected to be available as a reserve, ready to bolster the forward pack if necessary.
Young forward Kylan Mafoa is poised to make his highly anticipated debut, joining the interchange bench alongside several impactful players.
The backline remains unchanged, as Coach Kativerata continues to trust his regular players. Sunia Turuva, Maika Sivo, and Michael Jennings will lead the offensive efforts, supported by Waqa Blake, Semi Valemei, Kevin Naiqama, and Kurt Donoghoe, creating a formidable backline that is expected to challenge the opposition.
Captain Tui Kamikamica will lead the forwards, joined by powerhouse Viliame Kikau, promising a strong performance against the Cook Islands.
The game will start at 8:10 PM at the HFC Bank Stadium. Before this match, the Fiji Bulikula will compete against the Cook Islands at 6 PM in a World qualifying match.