SIA Soliola and Mose Masoe will line up to face Papua New Guinea at Craven Park (8pm) tonight.
It is a crunch game for the duo after they lost their first Group B match against New Zealand last week.
And teammate forward Mark Taufua wants to prove to the world Samoa’s international pedigree by getting back on track.
“It is really good over here,” he Taufua. “For a lot of us it is our first time in England and we are all really enjoying it. In a tournament like this, every game is like a semi-final and hopefully we can stay a bit longer than what a lot of people have had us down for.
“Our training has been positive since the New Zealand game. We went out there against them and wanted to be competitive against the world champions.
“We thought our performance was good in the end. We had a slow start but the crowd really got behind us and helped lift our game.
“We take it one game at a time, and now that the New Zealand game is over and done with and out of the way, we can concentrate on our next game, a tough match against PNG.
“We are looking at the whole PNG team as a threat because they will be hurting after that really close game against France.
“They will play with lots of enthusiasm and it will definitely give them an edge having played at Craven Park before. They know the ground and the pitch so we will have to get to know the stadium when it comes to the captain’s run.”
Samoa:
Leeson Ah Mau, David Fa’alogo, Pita Godinet, Tim Lafai, Joseph Leilua, Penani Manumalealii, Mose Masoe, Suaia Matagi, Anthony Milford, Junior Moors, Ben Roberts, Junior Sa’u, Michael Sio, Iosia Soliola, Sauaso Sue, Mark Taufua, Daniel Vidot, Antonio Winterstein.
PNG:
Josiah Abavu, Paul Aiton, Dion Aiye, Ase Boas, Jason Chan, Neville Costigan, Isreal Eliab, Richard Kambo, Enoch Maki, Larsen Marabe, Bosam Nene MacDonald, David Mead, Mark Mexico, Jessi Joe Nandye, Sebastion Pandia, Jason Tali, Ray Thompson, Charlie Wabo, Menzie Yere.
