Tonga have attempted to brush off the hype surrounding Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup pool clash with New Zealand, after four of their players defected from the Kiwis to play for the Polynesian nation.

Jason Taumalolo, Manu Ma’u, David Fusitu’a and Sio Siua Taukeiaho will front up for Mate Ma’a against the country of their birth in Hamilton on Saturday.

However another ex-New Zealand player – Sam Moa, who played nine Kiwi Tests between 2013 and 2016 – believes the match will be played in the right spirit.

“A lot of us in the Tongan side are friends with the boys in the Kiwis and that doesn’t change over the course of one game,” Moa said.

“When the game’s being played we’re out there to be physical, but once the whistle has blown, everyone shakes hands.”

The former Roosters forward, who won an NRL Premiership with the club in 2013, is expecting a tough examination from the home side.

The David Kidwell-coached Kiwis have already posted comfortable wins over Samoa and Scotland and are looking to finish top of Pool B.

First place in the pool will avoid Cup favourites Australia until the final.

“They’ve been the form team of the competition as they’re tending to throw the ball around and play to their strengths,” Moa said.

“They’ve done a tremendous job with the players that have been drafted into that side and they’re gelling together despite what happened pre-camp.”

The magnitude of the occasion is not lost on the Tongans either, as they seek to become the first tier-two nation in history to knock over a tier-one side.

The 31-year-old Moa, now based in southern France with Super League side Catalans Dragons, was itching to hit the park in the Waikato.

“There’s no beating around the bush – we’re playing to win,” Moa said.

“In saying that, we’re coming up against a really good New Zealand side who have shown in their first few games that they’re the team to beat.”