The PNG champion club leave today for Port Vila, via Brisbane, Australia.
However Hekari franchise owner John Kapi Natto last night said it would be testing time for the local PNG players.
The club would be calling on local O-League campaigners in David Muta, Andrew Lepani, Eric Komeng, Samuel Kini, Niel Hans and Ian Yanum to step up against the Vanuatu champions.
The inclusiion of Kema Jack and Raymond Gunemba has added to Hekari’s offensive ability.
Kapi Natto said the withdrawal of marquee signing Jean Kaltak from Vanuatu due to age restriction plus club commitments by Labasa trio, Maciu Dunadamu, Taniela Waqa and Pita Bolaitoga have left the Hekari management no choice but to field a team made up entirely of PNG players.
It will be the first time Hekari with this make up will be taking on a team with Solomon Islands and Vanuatu players.
Word has already hit Port Vila of the withdrawal of Kaltak due to OFC and FIFA teachnical rules, but fans from his village, Erakor, will be at Port Vila municipal stadium to barrack for Hekari.
Kapi Natto is pinning his hopes on his local contingent to lift and take on Amicale. While his players are focusing on the match.
He said he believed OFC was putting a lot of cost on franchise owners while they only provide airline tickets for travelling teams.
We are not a fully professional club yet and it would be really unfair for Hekari to have a longer stay in Port Vila preparing for Saturday’s match.
“In the past it was manageable with teams traveling one or two day before the match day,” he said.
Amicale has retained the bulk of their Solomon Islands imports from last year’s championship which include three former Hekari players in Stanley Waita, Joachim Waroik and Alick Maemae plus beach soccer star Jack Wetney.