The Labasa football side is facing hiccups getting their team ready for the Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants tournament.

Coach, Bal Sanju Reddy says some vital players namely Joseph Mishra, Akuila Mateisuva and Sandeep Nair have not trained with the team as they work in Suva.

Christopher Wasasala has also not joined training since returning from the Pacific Games.

Reddy adds despite the negatives, the northerners will be a hard team to beat at the tournament.

“I know the going will be very tough especially with the unavailability of these key players plus we also having difficulties with the unavailability of grounds as the grounds are busy with other events but come this Friday we know every team will be eager to beat us and we not sure of winning but just like any other team we are coming to win the tournament and anything can happen on the day of the tournament.”

Labasa takes on Nadroga in their first match at 5.30pm on Friday at Nausori’s Ratu Cakobau Park.

In other matches, Lautoka plays Tailevu Naitasiri at 1pm, Suva battles Nadi at 3pm while hosts Rewa plays Ba at 7.30pm.

You can catch live commentaries of the Suva-Nadi, Labasa-Nadroga and Rewa-Ba games on Radio Fiji 2 with the voice of soccer, Raymond Stoddart.