Vanuatu are confident of a strong showing at next month's Oceania Nations Cup in PNG.
RNZI reports the Melanesians failed to qualify for the semi finals at the 2012 event in Honiara, in which Tahiti went on to win the title.
Vanuatu begin their campaign against Melanesian rivals Solomon Islands in Port Moresby before matches against New Zealand and Fiji.
They beat New Caledonia in a one-off friendly in Port Vila last month in their only warm-up fixture but captain Fenedy Masaufakalo believed the team was suitably prepared and said they couldn't wait for kick-off.
"That's another thing again for the national team - the team is ready to go to the competition. We're in a tough pool and I think we're going to meet some Auckland (City) players again in the New Zealand team because we're in the same pool but it will be on Melanesian stage so the support too will be there," he said.
"We're ready for this and we're looking forward to it."