New Lebanese Coach Tarek Houchar says Saturday’s clash against Malta at New Era Stadium in Cabramatta is an important step in their road to the World Cup at the end of the year.

Houchar recently took control after Ivan Cleary signed on as Head Coach of Wests Tigers.

Lebanon will be without a number of big name NRL players including Robbie Farah and Tim Mannah and it will be their final hit out before a June showdown against Italy in Lebanon.

“This is a high-profile match for us,” Houchar said.

“Our players and staff understand the significance and are passionately committed to every aspect of our preparation. The boys will be focused on improving with every match we play.

“After this we turn our attention to the Mediterranean Cup to be played in Lebanon in June, where we will be meeting Italy in what should be really tough encounter, and continuing to earn the respect of our own nation and that of others to elevate our profile.”

The full match will be live streamed at: https://www.facebook.com/spotonvideo

LEBANON SQUAD: Mario el Boustani, Nick Kassis (Blacktown Workers), Brandon Bou Melhem, Kayne Kalache, Raymond Moujalli, (Bulldogs) Mark Daoud (Asquith), Abraham el-Zakhem, Elie el-Zakhem, Ahmad Ellaz, Jamie Clark (Auburn Warriors), Bilal Maarbani (Manly Sea Eagles), Ben Chahoud (Mounties), Khaled Deeb (Newtown), Abbas Miskie (North Sydney), Anthony Layout (Parramatta), Raymond Maroun (Penrith), Adam Doueihi (South Sydney), Danny Barakat, Elias Sukkar, Tarek El Masri, Mitchel Mamary (Wentworthville), Andrew Kazzi, Jaleel See-Derbes, (Wests Tigers)

MALTA SQUAD: Samuel Buttel (Asquith Magpies), Dylan Wilson (Ballina Seagulls), Clifford Debattista (Gozo RL – Maltese Islands), Jake Attard, Joel Bradford, Aaron Weston (Hills Bulls), Aaron Grech (La Perouse Panthers), Joshua Martin (Manly Sea Eagles), Luke Cauchi, Jye Ellul (Mounties), Nathan Falzon (Nowra Bomaderry Jets), Nathan Simpson (Picton Magpies), Timothy Good, Matt Thompson (St Clair), Dean Zammit (St Marys), Nathan Benson (Souths Sharks Mackay), Kyal Greene (The Oaks Tigers), Benjamin Stone (West Rosellas RLFC)