Dubai: UAE rugby coach Roelof Kotze faces a do-or-die first competitive game in charge of the Emirates against Singapore in Division One of the Asian Five Nations at The Sevens Stadium on Wednesday.

Whoever wins the one-off clash — from 7.30 pm — between newly relegated UAE and newly promoted Singapore will ensure their survival in the second tier.

Asian Five Nations sides are usually afforded four games in which to decide their fate in the annual two-month round-robin, but this year — due to the restructuring of all six divisions in time for 2015 — everything will come down to this game.

“It’s an added pressure,” said Kotze, who only took up his role in February. “It’s inconvenient in that I’ve only had a very short time with the squad and there’s pressure to be as accurate with the squad selection as possible. It’s not like other campaigns where you can build on the team as the format goes on. Here there is no second chance if you make the wrong selections.”

That said, Kotze is confident his team has what it takes to overcome the visitors.

“We’ve tried not to put too much pressure on the guys because it’s a new coach and a new structure and that would be unfair. But if we go out and do the things we’ve been working on and look after the small things, the scoreboard will look after itself.

“We expect Singapore to be fast and open whereas we would prefer to be slow and structured. Our loose forwards will be important to contain Singapore and our tight five will have to be dominant to keep Singapore from going too wide too quickly. And, hopefully, we can unleash our outside backs, who are fast on their feet and ready to express themselves.”

With defeat signalling instant relegation, Kotze said no stone would be left unturned for survival.

“It’s easier to maintain higher standards in a higher division than if you drop down and get complacent about bouncing back. We want to win and stay in the division and maintain our current standard while continuing to develop and integrate more players into the team.”

At present, there are five teams in all six Asian Five Nation divisions but, from next year, groups will consist of three teams, the bottom two teams will drop down to form the next division.

The UAE competed in the Top Five for three consecutive seasons before last year’s relegation to the second tier.