KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah will head to the Campbell Town Sports Stadium in Sydney with a huge disadvantage, having zero friendly matches in the build-up to their AFC Cup Asean Zonal semi-final game against Australia's Macarthur tomorrow.
Rhinos coach Ong Kim Swee said they had not had a competitive match since the M-League ended on Dec 17.
"Since the league ended, we have not had a single game. How many have Macarthur played?
"They are on a seven-match unbeaten run and are definitely looking good in the Australian League (currently third). It's not going to be easy.
"We've been training for the past four weeks. We'll be careful in our approach, especially against a well-prepared team."
When asked if Kim Swee's relationship with Sabah technical director Scott Ollerenshaw and former national Under-23 assistant coach Brad Maloney - both Australians - have proved informative, the 53-year-old joked and said they've been no help.
"He's (Ollerenshaw) not helping me at all.
"I've been working with him for a while now, and it definitely helps a lot. I have other friends in Australia. Maloney, who is with the Socceroos, was my assistant, so I'm familiar with the style, and that helps," said Kim Swee.
Sabah made history by qualifying for the Asean Zonal semi-final after emerging Group H champions with four wins from six games.
The same goes for Macarthur, who topped Group F with five wins from six games.