Winless Dabang Mumbai, who have lost their first three games in the Hockey India League, need to pull themselves up from the canvas and dish out an effective show when they take on Kalinga Lancers tomorrow.
After losing two away games, Mumbai frittered a 3-2 lead with three minutes left on the clock and allowed Delhi Wave Riders' forward Talwinder Singh to score the match-winning field goal yesterday and lost the clash 3-4.
With a field goal considered as a double strike under the rules of the tournament, Mumbai need to be extra cautious against the Lancers who have notched 10 out of the 25 field goals scored in the tournament so far.
Lancers have also won two out of four games, including the two teams' first leg clash at Bhubaneswar (4-2), and the chance of avenging the earlier loss would be an extra motivating factor, apart from chasing the elusive victory, for Mumbai in tomorrow's game.
The main hurdle for Mumbai appears to be a man who had represented them over the last two years - Australian striker Glenn Turner, capped 124 times for his country and scorer of 90 international goals.
The 31-year-old player, who has won World Cup and Commonwealth Games gold medals with the Australian team and was a member of the bronze-winning London Olympic Games squad, would have to be checked effectively if Mumbai hope to win.
None would be more aware of the danger posed by Turner, who has so far notched four field goals and another penalty stroke goal counted as two, than Mumbai's Australian coach Jay Stacy.
Stacy would also be pleased to see his under-performing penalty corner expert Harmanpreet Singh, who flopped yesterday, coming up with a match-winning display.
Lancers, on the other hand, would be keen to bounce back to winning ways after the 2-3 loss in the away game to Ranchi Rays.
The visitors have notched up 22 goals, including 10 field goals each of which are counted as two, and it's a clear indication where their strength lies.
