Kenya Simbas will play Uganda in the Elgon Cup on June 26 in Kampala.
The two rivals did not play last year due to the Covid -19 pandemic but hostilities will resume this time round in the two-legged encounter.
When they last met in 2019, the Cranes won the first leg 16-13 in Kisumu with Paul Odera's charges bouncing back in the second leg, winning 16-5 in Kampala to retain the trophy.
The match against Uganda will be a warm-up for the Rugby World Cup qualifiers against Senegal and Zambia in early July with the return leg of the Elgon cup slated for August.
The Simbas last international match was against Zimbabwe in September 2019 in Nakuru, a match the hosts won 36-14 to finish second in the Victoria Cup.
Odera is, however, a worried man since the team has had no enough time to prepare.
"It's not an ideal situation. The boys have been out for a year and a half due to the (Covid-19) pandemic and it's a race against time for the players to be match-fit and to be in the right frame of mind," said Odera.
A proposed 10-day training camp slated for Stellenbosch, South Africa in April was postponed to this month but is still in doubt due to lack of finances.
Odera said they have trimmed the squad from the initial 102 players to 50 and the team will be downsized to 35 next weekend ahead of the Elgon and Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
Odera said they cannot underrate Zambia and Senegal, especially now that they have been active despite the pandemic.
"Zambia played Zimbabwe last weekend, where they lost 33-16 while Senegal can go and train in France for the qualifiers. It won't be easy and we really have to be at our best,” added Odera.
The Simbas may play Kenya Cup champions KCB and Kabras in build-up fixtures ahead of the international season.
