Despite the odds being stacked against his team, coach Dato Ong Kim Swee feels that his charges has what it takes to overcome Fiji on Sunday.
This is their third match of the Oceania Tour having lost 2-0 to Papua New Guinea and edged New Caledonia 2-1.
The searing heat ( it was almost 30 Celsius) on Saturday, coupled with a bumpy pitch and the fact that their opponents are in the final stages of their Rio Olympic preparation will make it tough.
However Kim Swee loves challenges and feels that these factors can only spur his team to do well.
" We have to put aside issues like the kick off time , weather and pitch conditions and just concentrate on getting a good result and putting up a decent performance," said Kim Swee.
" it is not going to be a walk in the park just because they are ranked lower then us.
" From what I have observed they are a very fast opponent that rely on speed and quick breaks to troubles the opponents.
" While we want to win, it will be a game of caution in the first quarter of the match as we try to adept to the conditions and pace the game accordingly."
Kim Swee is expected to make several changes to the team, due to tactical reasons as well as injuries.
In goal keeper Khaurul Fahmi Che Mat is expected to get the nod.
And with the fact that width has been a key factor for Malaysia, Kim Swee is expected to start with S. Chanturu and Christie Jaysseelan on the right and left respectively.
The coach has used three different players in the left - Christie, Zaquan Adha and Khair Jones so far in the last four matches.
" I needed to try out who best suits the role as all can play in that position," explained Kim Swee.
" It is the same with strikers as I have options such as Hazwan, Amirulhadi, Kumarahan and Zaquan."
The tried and tested duo of Hazwan and Amirulhadi are expected to be given the nod.
In midfield Kim Swee is expected to retain the two B's - Brendan Gan and Badrol Bakhtiar.
" Aa I stated before, we planned to expose players in this tour as our main objective but are also under pressure to win matches," said Kim Swee
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