SINGAPORE – The Singapore rugby 15s training squad will play their first match of the year this Saturday, as they take on the World First Premiership Select — made up of the best players from the top-four teams of the country’s Premier division — in a friendly at the National Stadium.

While the clash may be billed as just a curtain raiser for the Super Rugby tie between the Sunwolves and the Bulls, there is more at stake for the players involved than meets the eye.

Singapore Rugby Union (SRU) vice-president Jonathan Leow says that with the squad for this year’s Asian Rugby Championship (ARC) Division Two tournament yet to be finalised, players could still stake a claim for a spot in the national team if they perform well this Saturday.

“In effect, this match is really a national selection trial for the Premiership players and those currently in the national training squad,” said Leow. “These players are the cream of the crop from our top-­division Singapore league, so this is a good chance for them to prove they are worthy of a place in the national team.

“It’s a good occasion as well for a lot of the players, who will be playing at the National Stadium for the very first time. It gives the sport a bit more credibility as well, with the community being able to see our top players live in action.”

National 15s captain Gasper Tan agreed, and added that the players would be taking Saturday’s match seriously despite its status as a friendly.

“Players will try to show they ­deserve a spot in the national team,” said the 27-year-old. “I know the door is still open and the coaches are keen to look at new talent coming in.

“Individually, everybody knows it’s important to play to a certain level. You never know if someone is going to outperform you. Everyone’s position is on the line, so we’ll all be taking this match seriously.”

Following their relegation to the second tier last season, Singapore’s main aim this year will be to gain promotion to Division One of the ARC.

They will take on Uzbekistan on May 18 in Tashkent, before playing either Guam or the United Arab Emirates in the final three days later.

SRU general manager George Danapal revealed that the national team — headed by coach Inoke Afeaki — will play a match against Gibraltar on April 8 in preparation for the tournament. But because there are no other friendly matches on the horizon, the Super Rugby curtain raiser will have to serve as one of the ways for the national team to prepare for the ARC.

“We can’t arrange a lot of overseas matches because we have to factor in the heavy costs of going overseas to play,” said Danapal.

“So this match will give us an ­opportunity to play a game locally at a much reduced cost, and the amount we save can then be used in other areas of rugby development. The match will also be crucial in terms of our preparations for the ARC.”