[Yardslave]

I am at the compaction stage in the installation process of my patio and I'm using Alliance polymeric joint sand. My question is this: The manufacturer states that the proper installation of the polymeric paver joint sand is as follows:

"1. Install pavers and compact.
2. Make sure the top of the pavers are dry. Sweep Polymer Sand in between the paver joints and then compact. "

In step 1, should I just compact the pavers alone without putting any sand on the surface to cushion the pavers. I am planning to use a sheet of luan on the pavers when using the compactor to help distribute the force and keep the pavers even. Is there a risk of the pavers moving out of place with nothing between the joints? I'm getting a little nervous because this is the last step and I don't want to ruin the job unwittingly because I didn't know some detail. This my first paver job (about 600 sq. ft.) and I don't want to screw it up during the final stage. Any information would be most welcome and appreciated.

Thanks.