I-LEAGUE Media Team

Pune: Pune FC coach Karim Bencherifa wouldn’t have asked for a better start than what his team has given after three rounds in the Hero I-League. A class act against Shillong Lajong FC on Thursday just about outlined the way team has prepared itself during the grueling pre-season.

And, as Red Lizards get ready to host Mumbai FC in the season’s first Derby—the Maharashtra Derby—there is little doubt between the chalk and the cheese.

Pune FC are at the No 2 position with 7 points—2 points behind leaders Royal Wahingdoh—while Mumbai FC, who shifted back home at Cooperage after playing three seasons at this very Balewadi Stadium, is at the bottom of the heap.

Mumbai, who have played two matches, are yet to open its account, though these are still early days in the 2015 season.

Pune FC’s overwhelming 5-2 win over Shillong Lajong has put the focus back on its academy recruit Thongkhosiem Haokip, who scored an hat-trick inside 15 minutes of the start of the match.

Now that Derby prestige at stake, Pune FC will look to go all out against Mumbai with all the 18 players available for selection. Flaring up of tempers during Pune FC versus Mumbai FC is usual, but given the way the two teams have progressed the game is expected to be hotly-contested encounter without doubt.

The way Pune FC has played so far, coach Bencherifa will look for good team work that has given two memorable wins in the last two rounds. Japanese recruit Sueoka Ryuji and Montenegro’s Darko Nikac, who struck one goal each against Shillong Lajong, should again make starts and provide the much-needed fireworks for the Red Lizards.

Also Arata Izumi, Dhanpal Ganesh, local lad Prakash Thorat, Anthony De Souza and Arup Debnath should make it to the first eleven.

“I have still not decided on the playing XI, but even if there are changes I keep it within the team. I do understand that its a Derby, which is very important for the home teams,” said Bencherifa.

“We have to continue with the good results. The game is about those three points and that where our focus is on. What we are trying to do now is to make sure that there is no sense of satisfaction because just three games are over and already there is a lot of talk around us from the last two games. I want to make sure that the hype stays outside and we remain focused,” he said.

KO: Sunday @ 7 pm IST (Ten Action)
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