A battle royale is on the cards when IFA Shield champions East Bengal take on runners-up Churchill Brothers in the second leg of the Oil PSU National Football League, at the Nehru stadium in Goa, on Thursday.
Churchill, placed fourth with 20 points from 12 matches, are the only Goan team to have drawn against East Bengal in the first leg of the league.
The showing of their new Ghanian recruit, striker Benjamin Ansah, who combined well with Yusif Yakubu against Dempo, and home advantage gives them a good chance to upset their fancied Kolkata opponents.
Both the teams met thrice this season. They drew in the first leg of the league, while Churchill lost in the final of the IFA Shield after beating East Bengal in the qualifying stage.
Churchill coach Marcus Pacheco said tomorrow's match would be tough but maintained his boys are in positive frame of mind.
However, he said his only fear is how well his defence, in the absence Ossumanu Husseini, handles pressure against the strike force of Alvito D'Cunha, Mike Okoro and Suley Musah.
"If our defence sticks to the task we have a good chance of upsetting the opponent who has had a good unbeaten run so far," added Pacheco.
East Bengal, who have won four titles this season, are comfortably placed at the top with 30 points from 12 matches, six points ahead of second-placed Salgaocar, who have played 13 matches.
A win tomorrow will give East Bengal a nine-point lead over Salgaocar, taking them closer to the title.
Coach Subhas Bhowmick said the team would guard against complacency.
"Tomorrow's match would be a tough and crucial one for winning the title.
"It is a difficult proposition to play in Goa against the home team, and they have recruited one more foreigner who is playing well, which will give them more advantage," Bhowmick said.
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