National head coach V. Sundramoorthy says there's no cause for alarm, despite Singapore falling to defeat at the hands of an amateur side to start their three-match training tour of Japan.
The Lions suffered a surprise 3-2 loss to Niigata University of Health and Welfare on Wednesday. They will play Japan Sports College on Thursday ahead of their friendly against J-League outfit Albirex Niigata on Sunday.
"I'm happy to give the players their first playing minutes of this training camp," Sundram told Today.
"These two training matches give me a chance to test various formations and players such as Amy Recha, which will be important in our preparations for the friendly against Albirex Niigata on Sunday and the 'A' international against Cambodia."
With 18 players seeing game-time, Singapore blew an early lead after Gabriel Quak's opening goal in the ninth minute. The Japanese outfit struck twice in nine minutes to go up 2-1 before Hafiz Sujad levelled before the break.
But Wada Kanta scored the winner for the students in the 56th minute in a match where Khairul Amri and Madhu Mohana were among the more experienced starters.
But missing from the squad are key men like Hariss Harun, Safuwan Baharudin, Baihakki Khaizan and Hassan Sunny.
Before the trip, coach Sundram stressed that performances were more important than results, with one eye on November's AFF Suzuki Cup.
Singapore will play Albirex Niigata at the Denka Big Swan Stadium before facing Cambodia on July 28 in Phnom Penh.