Pune FC will have a task at hand when they face Mohun Bagan AC in a second round Group B encounter in the 36th Federation Cup 2015 at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco, Goa on Thursday.

The clash on the New Year’s day will be a crucial one for both sides for similar reasons. While third-placed Mohun Bagan (1pt) will look to earn more points and make a move up the table, a win for second-placed Pune FC (3pts) will take them two points clear at the top of the group.

The clash will also be the second time Pune FC face Mohun Bagan in this season after logging a thrilling 7-6 sudden death win in the King’s Cup in Bhutan a month ago and will be hoping for a similar result this time.

Furthermore, having logged nine competitive wins so far since the start of the season, Pune FC will be keen to seal a tenth in their 12th competitive match since October 2014.

Going into the game after an impressive come from behind 3-1 win over Shillong Lajong FC in the opener, Coach Karim Bencherifa wants his team to build on the good work on the morrow.

“I am very happy with the character the team showed in the first match. It’s never easy to come back after conceding an early goal but we finished the game on a high and we would want to build on that,” said Coach Bencherifa after a training session at the Nagoa Football Ground on Wednesday.

Pune FC will be confident ahead of the game with the key players Arata Izumi, Dhanpal Ganesh, Ryuji Sueoka and Luciano Sabrosa once again leading on the field. Moreover, with three different players getting on the scoresheet against Lajong on Monday, Pune FC will hope to convert more chances on the morrow.

On the team news front, Coach Bencherifa will have all 20-players available for selection on matchday. With no player carrying any major injury, it gives an added boost to the entire team ahead of the game.

Speaking about the opponents, Coach Bencherifa added, “We did beat Bagan in Bhutan, but this is a different game, a different competition and definitely a different team. We may be a young team, but we are an enthusiastic group and we know how to win matches.”

Bagan, who have undergone a lot of changes in the past month since their last game against Pune FC, come into the game after a playing out a goalless draw against Bengaluru FC.

While Coach Sanjoy Sen has taken over the charge at the helm replacing Subhash Bhowmick, Bagan have also been boosted by the return of key Indian players in the team.

The likes of ex-Pune FC player Jeje Lalpekhlua, Anwar Ali, Balwant Singh and Pritam Kotal join the squad after the ISL giving Bagan more options.

Nonetheless, Bagan will rely heavily on the foreign duo of wingers Katsumi Yusa and Sony Norde while Pierre Boya will be leading the attacking front. Defender Bello Rasaq completes the overseas lineup and will form the nucleus of the team.

The game on the morrow will also be the first time both sides face off in the country’s premier knockout cup competition and either side will be keen to get the all important win.

The game kicks off at 16.00 IST on Thursday.