BRAD Maloney plans to have at least three friendly matches before the AFF Under-23 Championship on Feb 14-26 in Phonm Penh.
Maloney, who announced his 30-player call-up on Saturday, said it is likely they will utilise the current Fifa window, which ends on Feb 1, for his team to play Sabah and probably two other international teams.
"We are arranging to have a minimum of three friendlies.
"Sabah looks likely and we're in discussion with two others, possibly Singapore and Brunei," said the national Under-23 coach.
"Singapore and Brunei are not confirmed yet. Otherwise, we will arrange with domestic clubs, because we want a minimum of three games."
The Australian coach has retained nine players from the team that qualified for the Under-23 Asian Cup.
The nine are Umar Hakeem Suhar Rezwan, Shafi Azswad Sapari, Faiz Amer Runnizar, Fahmi Daniel Mohd Zaaim, Azhad Harraz Arman, Nur Azfar Fikri Azhar, Syed Nasrulhaw Syed Bidin, T. Saravanan and Aiman Afif Afizul.
But Maloney plans to do without core players like Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi, Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar, Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman, Ahmad Zikri Khalili, Luqman Hakim Shamsudin and Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat.
With clubs undergoing preseason training for the M-League, Maloney prefers to use the opportunity to call up new faces that could potentially find a place in his final list of 28.
"For this competition, we're looking at new players to give them some experience at international level and see who will give us extra depth," said Maloney.
For this call-up, Maloney has listed six 23-year-olds. They are T. Shaheeswaran, Gerald Gadit, Abdul Hanafie Tokyo Abdul Hasim, Zainal Abidin Jamil, Syed Nasrulhaq Syed Bidin and Ahmad Tasnim Fitri Nasir.