THE Fiji Bati training squad preparing for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup will be trimmed next month.
This was confirmed by assistant Fiji Bati coach Joe Rabele who said they could cut it down to 20 or 17 players from the 34 that were training.
"At the moment we are just concentrating on training these boys and then when we have a camp on April 24 to 26 we will have another trial where head coach Rick Stone will be present," he said.
"The trial will be held on April 27 and that is where we will trim the squad and bring it down to either 20 or 17."
Rabele said their job could become easier if players continued with a trend they had developed in the past two weeks.
"Some players are not turning up for training and they have been given a warning that they will be eliminated from the squad if they continue this trend. We are paying their bus fare to come to training and for those who are working, we have sent their employers letters and their schedules asking for release for training.
"So there should be no excuses and if the players continue to stay away from training without informing any of our development officers then they will be dropped."
He said they were using the training sessions to have a thorough look at players' attitudes and discipline and while some have been consistent, some have been very poor.
"Players like Semisi Tora and Jone Wesele are the only two players from the last World Cup that are in the Fiji Residents team."