Pune FC will hope to take a leaf out of their past dominance over Dempo SC when they face the Goan heavyweights in an I-League Round-11 encounter at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa, on Wednesday.

Having won six of the 10 encounters in the league and Federation Cup over the years respectively, Pune FC will be out to exploit the indifferent run the hosts have had so far. For Pune FC, the primary objective will be to put on an improved show to secure their first win in the coastal state this season.

In Goa, Pune FC have so far played twice and ended up with contrasting results (lost to Sporting Club and drew with Salgaocar FC) and a positive result on the morrow would help moving to the top of the table.

Coach Mike Snoei said: “It’s a good opportunity to take the lead again, which in itself is good motivation for my boys to start with a mission on mind. I must add that we respect the opponents and I believe we can do a good job.”

Hosts Dempo SC (10 pts, 9 games) are currently eighth in the table, while Pune FC (17 pts, 9 games) are third just a point behind leaders Salgaocar FC and Bengaluru FC.

Both teams go into the game with results not going on expected lines. While Pune FC came from a goal down to draw 1-1 against Salgaocar, the hosts were subjected to a 1-2 home defeat by United SC.

After many years of success under their ex-coach Armando Colaco, Dempo SC are in a phase of transition under new Coach Arthur Papas and have completely revamped their squad.

The Coach felt, “Dempo are struggling and I think they need time. But one thing I must say is in their last game (v/s United SC) they were a better lot, but ended disappointed.”

“We must be careful with this team (Dempo), they cannot be left,” Coach added.

While a few players like goalkeeper Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, defender Debabrata Roy along with midfielders Peter Carvalho and Clifford Miranda continue to be an integral part of the new set-up, most of the remaining positions have seen an entirely different set of players step in.

Dempo’s foreign quartet of former player and Brazilian playmaker Beto, along with new players in Aussie defender Simon Colosimo, Japanese defender Shinnosuke Honda and Irish target-man Billy Mehmet haven’t yet been able to adapt to the new style.

With the Goan side’s struggle evident, and having secured just two wins so far, Papas has been relying on his former Arrows’ players instead of the experienced lot. Narayan Das, Pronay Halder, Holicharan Narzary and Alwyn George have all been regulars in the hosts’ lineup.

Dempo also features three former Pune FC players in their ranks. Striker Jeje Lalpekhlua – a regular alternative to Mehmet up front or out wide – comes up against his former team for the first time after spending six seasons at Pune FC since the start of his professional career in 2007.

Other ex-Pune FC players joining him will be centre-back Selwyn Fernandes and medio Godwin Franco who have been used mostly from the bench.

The hosts will be missing services of a few players with the prominent ones being long-serving Mahesh Gawli and Samir Naik in defence.

On the Pune FC team news front, Coach Mike Snoei will have the full contingent of 20 players available for selection. But the good news is that defender Calum Angus, who missed the previous two games, will start against Dempo.

“Yes he (Calum) is back. His inclusion will strengthen the defence,” Coach explained.

Calum’s addition might be an added advantage for Pune FC as they would need to keep the goalscoring trio of Jeje, Beto and Clifford (3 goals each) under check.

Pune FC’s last two away games against the Goan side have resulted in wins. This includes a record 5-1 win during last season that saw Dempo’s campaign go downhill. However, both teams will face each other with different men in-charge for the first time.

Nonetheless, Pune FC can take motivation from the fact that they have always scored against the Goans and have logged a total of 19 goals in the previous ten games against the hosts.

With Dempo’s defense being breached regularly this season, conceding 13 goals second only to bottom-placed Rangdajied United, Pune FC will hope to add to the number.

Medio Arata Izumi is no doubt the standout performer in this encounter having scored 7 times in 6 different matches against the Goans. Playmaker Douhou Pierre is also among the past-scorers against Dempo scoring in last-season’s 5-1 win.

On the other hand, Clifford (3 goals, all of them openers), Beto (2 goals) and Peter (1 goal) have scored in the past against Pune FC.