Malaysia under-22 coach Frank Bernhardt is set to continue tinkering with his line up, as he probes for the best possible squad ahead of next year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on home soil.
The German made seven changes in Malaysia's 2-1 home loss to Bahrain on Friday, after his side held the same opponents to a goalless draw three days earlier.
Hazza Ali bagged a double, including an injury time penalty, to cancel out S. Kumaahran's equaliser to give the Gulf nation the win.
But Berhandt insisted he needed to tweak the squad to see all of his players' potential.
"Of course, if a player is playing regularly, he will be confident, but I needed to change the line up and give the other boys playing time as well," said Bernhardt.
"We made some individual errors, and it cost us dearly. I think we played better in the first game."
Bernhardt was initially promised a full-time squad to work with at the start of the season, before the FA of Malaysia reversed their decision and asked the players to return to their respective clubs before the season began in February.
The 47-year-old, however, guided Malaysia to the inaugural Nations Cup final in June before they slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Thailand.
After that, the team set off on a friendly tour of Japan where they drew 3-3 with Machida Zelvia, before losing 1-0 to Shonan Bellmare.
Malaysia last won the SEA Games football gold medal in 2011 under Datuk Ong Kim Swee.