Having displayed sturdy spirit that pulled them out of a near-defeat in their last round, Pune FC are high on confidence to face Prayag United in an I-League Round 20 game.

While hosts Pune FC will certainly want to set the record straight after losing the first-leg 1-5 – their worst since the inception – it is the home advantage and the hope of moving up the ranks that makes the game crucial. The league table, as it stands, separates position 2-7 by just four points.

For Pune FC Coach, Derrick Pereira, any pre-match opinion revolves around “we need to perform to our potential.”

Thus, with the win over Dempo SC doing a world of good, the coach made it a point to remind, “All credit to the boys to come back from the difficult time of having to deal with defeat (Sporting Clube de Goa in Round 18). They players performed well after the demoralizing match wherein a 2-0 lead ended with a huge defeat.”

On Prayag United, the coach said, “They are a good side. A well-balanced side and most importantly, have an experienced back-line.”

While for some reason Prayag United have been tricky opponents over the years, they have every reason to look up to the fact that they have not been good travelers, having picked up only 7 points from six games out of Kolkata, the lowest amongst the Top-9 teams. Moreover, Pune FC have not lost to their rivals at home in an I-League game.

Adding up to Pune FC’s advantage is Prayag, for the first time, are going without at least two of their foreign strikers. In the 19 previous games, Prayag have played two from Kayne Vincent, Yusif Yakubu and Josimar Martins always.

In the game on Sunday, at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, the Kolkata side have Yakubu, as Josimar is suspended and Kayne injured.

With Prayag United holding the edge, the coach adds, “I do not want to look into those results of the past.”

“We are in better shape than the last time we played,” he added, referring to the first-leg played in Kolkata. “Keita (striker) was not in the team back then… and that match is in the past.”

Looking ahead to the game, the coach felt, “Now, it’s the home ground that we play on. We (Pune FC) are better here and have performed well.”

"The objective will be to go into the break-period with a good win before we regroup for the final assault of this year’s I-League.

On Prayag United missing the services of three key players, skipper Lalkamal Bhowmick (injury) included, the coach opined, “we need to take advantage of the situation. But then again, it remains an eleven versus eleven situation and we need to perform upto to potential.”

Pune FC will have a full squad to choose from, with defender Chika Wali getting back into the squad after serving a one-match suspension against Dempo SC in Goa. However, coach preferred to keep his views, “There will be changes in the 18-man team.”

However, a few niggles to defender Anas Edathodika and central midfielders Douhou Pierre and Baldeep Singh remain concerns ahead of the game. “Anas and Douhou practiced Friday so they are not a worry, but Baldeep who suffered a jerk during a practice session was rested.”

Meanwhile, the good news is that goalkeeper Shahinlal Meloly, who was undergoing rehabilitation, is declared fit, handing the coach options with Amrinder Singh remaining the other.

Pune FC and Prayag United have played out close encounters in the past and so far have met on ten occasions in all. So far, the head-to-head count tilts in the Kolkata side’s favour with five (5) wins as compared to two by Pune FC and three drawn encounters.

However, in Pune, both teams have met thrice overall and both have won one each – the Prayag win coming in the Second Division I-League (Qualifiers), while one ended in a draw.

Interestingly, the last four Pune FC-Prayag encounters have always seen a result and Sunday’s turns out to be the third clash of the season, which also means Pune FC are out to secure their maiden win over their ‘tricky Kolkata rivals.