COACH Tan Cheng Hoe is looking for a warm-up match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil before Malaysia start their AFF Cup campaign in Singapore from Dec 5-Jan 1.
Harimau Malaya last played at the National Stadium in 2019, where they beat Indonesia 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Nov 19.
A warm-up match at home, in front of a vociferous home crowd for a morale booster, has been a tradition of the national team before the AFF Cup.
With the government opening up state borders and stadiums allowed to have spectators, Harimau Malaya may get some roar of moral support.
The Fifa window on Nov 8-16 gives the national team to play a friendly match, but there's only a slot available in that period as it clashes with the Malaysia Cup which resumes on Oct 29.
Cheng Hoe said the tight round of Malaysia Cup fixtures will leave his men drained in November as they will have played four matches in the group stage, followed up by quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
"There are two slots to play international matches in November, but I don't think the players will be fresh enough to play two matches. They would have played up to nine matches in a short period, and they most probably would be exhausted and drained," said Cheng Hoe, a former international.
"I believe a sparring match will be sufficient before the AFF Cup. We will probably play a team from the Asean region at Bukit Jalil.
"I would love to play a warm-up match at the National Stadium, it will be a boost for the players. We have clearly missed the supporters at the stands since the Covid-19 pandemic. Their return to the stadium will be perfect for the players."
Cheng Hoe is currently under a 14-day quarantine with the national players since their return from Amman on Monday after playing two international friendlies.