ALL hands are on deck for the Vodafone Fiji Bati this week as they gear up for their first Pacific Bowl match against the Cook Islands Aitu in Papua New Guinea.
The team landed in Port Moresby from Australia on Sunday, and had their first training session on Monday.
Since the team was named less than a week ago, the Fiji Bati have made changes in the squad initially announced earlier.
These include the exclusion of players such as Waqa Blake, Samuela Fainu, Sione Fainu, Jordin Leiu and Meli Nasau.
Also absent from the team is Sydney Roosters centre Mark Nawaqanitawase.
The Roosters rookie was initially named in the Bati’s extended squad however he had been picked up by the Australian Kangaroos for the 2025 Ashes Tour against England.
Meanwhile, with the Fiji Bati in Papua New Guinea, head coach Wise Kativerata will work closely once again with prop forward and Bati captain Tui Kamikamica.
Kamikamica is also up for signing on the market having reached the end of his deal with the Melbourne Storm.
The team will also have players such as Kaiviti Silktails skipper Gabriel Tunimakubu and former Silktails player Akuila Qoro on board.
Tunimakubu was called up to join the team recently as injury cover for Ben Nakubuwai.
When the Fiji Bati and the Cook Islands Aitu go head-to-head, the Bati have an upper hand in the record, having beaten them 56-6 in last year’s competition at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
After the Aitu, the Fiji Bati will face the PNG Kumuls on Saturday, November 1 in Port Moresby.
This Saturday’s match between the Bati and the Aitu kicks off at 5pm (Fiji time).
