Hammered from pillar to post for the abysmal showing in the Causeway Derby just three days earlier, Tan Cheng Hoe managed to rallied his troops for one good showing in this international window to avoid finishing last in the inaugural Airmarine Cup.
Cheng Hoe rang the changes to the Malaysia team with four new players coming in with Rizal Ghazali, Hadin Azman, Halim Saari and Faiz Nasir replacing Matthew Davies, Syazwan Zainon, Nor Azam Azih and Zaquan Adha respectively. Norshahrul Idlan Talaha was pushed to the central striking role with Faiz given the licence to roam behind him.