Jarome Luai arrived in Port Moresby this week, ahead of Saturday's Samoa match and his first game in Papua New Guinea since signing with the Chiefs in April.
The club will enter the NRL in 2028. Luai's move stirred debate as Wests Tigers' season faltered, while Brian To'o, Zac Lomax and Joey Manu have also joined the Chiefs.
The team has yet to enter free agency, where tax-free offers could unsettle rivals. Under Australia's $600 million Pacific sports diplomacy strategy, Chiefs players will pay no salary tax.
Luai can also pursue sponsor deals and arrived wearing a Pepsi cap; his image appears in local advertising.
The Chiefs' white jersey, designed by Tabu Pelei Warupi, features Bank of South Pacific, Coca-Cola and Toyota. It is believed to be the richest jersey in NRL history.
Inaugural coach Willie Peters said, "To be able to unite a country in the most positive way through rugby league, which I know people in PNG love, will be an obsession of mine."
League is a powerful passion in Papua New Guinea, a country with more than 800 languages and dusty city fields where young players compete.
PNG are major outsiders against Samoa, but former star Marcus Bai believes the match could deliver a major scalp.
"Go hard," Bai said.