Mioks in for tester at Tente

 By PHILIP KEPSON

ENGA Miok’s anchormen Esau Siune (pictured) and Pasu Awani will lead their side against the Mendi Muruks in what is expected to be a fiery encounter at the Joe Keviame Oval in Tente, Mendi, in the Round 11 Digicel Cup match on Sunday.

The two players, who are the team’s most senior players but have been overlooked by Kumul selectors, vowed yesterday after training to to send a message that their team is still a top contender.

Esau, from Enduga tribe in Kundiawa, Chimbu, joined the Mioks in 2009 after leading the Sineyogos to a final’s victory in the Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup, is a vital cog in the Miok’s forward pack.

 He said the home team would be  on a high after beating defending champions Rabaul Gurias last week but his band was equally prepared to put up a fight against their neighbours.

“It will be a physical encounter with the home team throwing everything at us, but we won’t allow them to walk over us,” Siune said.

The 25-year-old said he would treat this week Sunday’s game as reminder for Kumul selectors that he was keen on making the World Cup squad.

Siune was part of the February’s Residents XIII team to Australia that played NRL club South Sydney.

 He was part of the first high performing Kumul camp in March.

“I was not invited to attend the latest camp. But that does not stop me from keeping myself fit to be considered,” he said.

Awani, who has been one of the competition’s standout centres, said  his players had a game plan that was aimed at pressuring the opposition into making mistakes and they would use their usual hustling defence to keep the Muruks on the backfoot.

“We know they will be very physical in front of the home crowd but that will not help them. 

“We will have to make sure they  are under pressure in their own half to allow us to collect points,” Awani said.