SINGAPORE – New Lions head coach Tsutomu Ogura has given national call-ups to four uncapped players as part of an otherwise familiar 26-man squad announced on March 8 for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against China – at home on March 21 and away five days later.

After weeks of meeting Singapore Premier League (SPL) clubs and watching training and matches at the SPL interim tournament, the Japanese has opted with a largely tried and tested mix of experience and youth.