After suffering back to back defeats, India would be keen to earn their first point when they meet Malaysia in their third league match of the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
A new-look Indian team must get the attack organised and tighten up the defence to have any chance of troubling the hosts, who are looking in good form in the seven-nation tournament.
In the losses against Germany and Pakistan, India conceded all the six goals through penalty corners, which must be a matter of concern for coach Harendra Singh.
Moreover, individualism rather than team effort has been the hallmark of the inexperienced side in competition so far and Harendra felt that a little combination coupled with clever overlapping of the linkmen should fetch them better dividends.
The coach also made clear that his side would be taking an attacking posture in tomorrow's game.
Malaysian coach Paul Lissek, on the other hand, feels that India's decision to play agressively would help his side.
"If India play an attacking game then it will definitely suit us as it will provide our forwards so much space," said Lissek, who promised a no-holds barred contest.
Lissek, a former German international, is under considerable pressure to show results following the team's disappointing show in recent years.
Lissek is looking at the Azlan Shah Cup to prove his critics wrong and in the two matches so far, the hosts have acquitted themselves well, despite a 2-4 defeat to Germany and a 3-3 draw with Spain.
Both India and Malaysia have been playing a three-forward formation with a four-man midfield and deep defence. Thus, the onus is on the two linkmen on the wings to join the three forwards in the attack.
The Malaysians have been able to throw more men in the attack, thanks to some clever inter-changing of positions and also hard running.
It helped them to put Germany under pressure last night, and had the Malaysians hung on in the last 10 minutes, they could well have pulled off a great victory.
The Indian camp is only too aware of the strength of the Malaysian team that also contains a few junior players.
Their second choice goalkeeper, Kumar Subramaniam, who got a full game against Germany last night, was particularly outstanding and averted a bigger defeat for Malaysia.
Similarly, full-back Kuhan Shanmuganathan has displayed good form at penalty corner conversions with a hat-trick against Spain. The forwards have also shown plenty of pluck and speed.
Under the circumstances, the Indian defence will be kept on its toes on the morrow.
India's chances will hinge on the midfield play, said Harendra.
"We need to closely mark the Malaysian forwards as they are very fast and dodge well. But I feel that the Malaysian weakness lies in its defence, and I am quite confident that we will be able to break it," he said.
Both the coaches predicted a close contest marked by vociferous support for the home team in the National Stadium. If the performance so far is any yardstick, then the Malaysians hold a definite edge with the Indians needing to raise their game to put it across.
Sunday's matches (IST): Korea vs Germany (1.35 pm); Malaysia vs India (3.35 pm); Pakistan vs Spain (5.35 pm).
