Manu Samoa are hopeful their home ground will receive a much-needed facelift after overcoming bog-like conditions to defeat Tonga in their Pacific Nations Cup rugby opener at the weekend.
The Manu came from behind to win 25-17 at Apia Park to secure their first win over the 'Ikale Tahi in three years.
World Rugby officials were close to calling off the match before kick-off, with the playing surface resembling a mud-bath following sustained periods of heavy rain in the Samoan capital.
"It looked like it was going to clear up for a period of time there, but it came in again and it bucketed down in the warm-up and everyone was soaked," said Manu Samoa head coach Steve Jackson.
"Michael Groom from World Rugby just came up to me and said if we abandon the game it will be a draw, if we abandon the game in the first half due to the conditions, or if we abandon the game in the second half the team that's leading will win the game, so we were really clear from World Rugby what was going to happen in any instance."
Apia Park last underwent extensive renovations in 2015, prior to hosting the rugby test between Manu Samoa and the All Blacks and the Youth Commonwealth Games.
The national stadium also staged the opening and closing ceremonies for the Pacific Games earlier this month as well as the rugby league and athletics competitions, while the rugby sevens event had to be moved to another ground because the playing field was not fit for purpose.
Steve Jackson was happy enough to come away with the win on Saturday, but admitted the ground was in need of some much-needed TLC.
"Probably the right decision was made in the end to continue the game," he said. "I don't think any team would have wanted the game to be abandoned - I think it just means that hopefully Apia Park gets an upgrade," he said.
"They've had some games on it, they had the league and then rugby and it's sort of never been able to get the growth of the grass back so hopefully they put a bit of work into that and we get it right being the only fixture we've got at home this year anyway."