The Sunwolves are hoping to put aside a depressing week and show the world what it will miss post-2020 in Saturday's game against the Johannesburg-based Lions at Singapore National Stadium.

A few hours after SANZAAR announced the Japanese franchise would cease to be a part of the Southern Hemisphere tournament, once the current broadcast agreement ends next year, Sunwolves coach Tony Brown said his players were only focused on the game in hand.

(Sunwolves head coach Tony Brown, right, and captain Dan Pryor talk to the media at Singapore National Stadium on March 22, 2019, a day before they play their Super Rugby game against the Lions.)

"What happens outside rugby is out of our control, what happens in the game is in our control," he said before his team held their captain's run at the match venue.

"As a rugby team you can't look any further forward than next week...and we're looking forward to playing a good Lions side."

Like his Sunwolves counterpart, Lions head coach Swys de Bruin tried to stay clear of issues off the field, simply saying "it is a privilege and honor to play the Sunwolves. Last year we were fortunate to win (40-38) at the end and we know we will be up against a strong, well-coached, physical team."

While much has been said of the current makeup of the Sunwolves squad -- with the majority of the national team on an extended camp prior to this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan -- there is no denying the team's involvement with Super Rugby since 2016 has seen the Brave Blossoms improve.

"Since we've had a team in the Super Rugby, it has given us more opportunities to play and grow the competitiveness of Japanese players," said veteran scrumhalf Fumiaki Tanaka, who came off the bench in the Brave Blossoms' 23-23 draw with France in Paris in 2017.

Tanaka is one of a number of internationals making their first Super Rugby start of the season and Brown said he was hoping the experienced players would make a "huge impact."

"We are slowly getting more of the internationals back and they have fitted in well. But they will be a bit rusty and will be blowing early," he said.

With the Lions forced to play two locks in the back row, the Sunwolves are expected to play an expansive game and then allow the power of replacements Uwe Helu, Amanaki Lelei Mafi and Hosea Saumaki and the tactical nous of Tanaka to take over.

"The fans expect flair and excitement (from the Sunwolves). We just need to shut things up in the later stages," said Dan Pryor, who leads the side for the first time.

The team also needs to improve on its discipline, especially at scrum time, with the Sunwolves heavily penalized in recent narrow losses to the Blues and Reds.

"Referees see things differently in the scrum so we have to adapt," said hooker Atsushi Sakate, who will pack down between returning internationals Masataka Mikami and Koo Ji Won.

"That first scrum will be important but I am sure things will be different from last week and that is a positive."

While a win will not change the minds of SANZAAR, it will allow the players to approach the rest of this year's campaign in a positive light. Though what happens next year when Super Rugby runs at the same time as the Top League remains very much up in the air.