Pune FC will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they take on Dempo SC in an I-League Round 17 encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa on Saturday.

The game will be an important one for either side for distinct reasons. While fourth placed Pune FC (20 points) will hope for a change in fortunes after a hard fought 2-3 loss to East Bengal at home, seventh placed Dempo SC (13 pts) will be looking to build on their 1-0 win over Mumbai FC away from home.

Nonetheless, Pune FC will be keen to force a result this time around after their goalless draw against Dempo SC in the home leg earlier this season. At the same time, Pune FC will also want to make a move up the table as they take field for the fourth time in two weeks.

Furthermore, with back-to-back crucial games against defending champions Bengaluru FC and current leaders Mohun Bagan lined up next week, Pune FC will be eager to shrug off the disappointment of a loss and get back to winning ways.

The clash on the morrow will also be the tenth time Pune FC play a competitive game in the coastal state this season in all competitions and their second at Fatorda after playing four games each in the Durand Cup (Raia Sports Ground) and the Federation Cup (Tilak Maidan, Vasco) apart from the I-League opener (Fatorda).

Despite that, the task at hand won’t be an easy one and coach Karim Bencherifa is aware of the situation. Moreover, having earned just one win in five games after the international break in March, Bencherifa will want his side to get a good result against Dempo.

“Our result against East Bengal in the previous round makes the game against Dempo an all important one. The players also realise it and we are working very hard. But we know that the game against a good Dempo side won’t be an easy one,” said Bencherifa on the sidelines of a training session at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.

On the team news front, Pune FC will be missing services of defender Raju Yumnam who suffered an injury in the previous game and joins Edgar Marcelino and Ishfaq Ahmed on the sidelines.

Nonetheless, Pune FC will be boosted by the return of key midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh. The India international is back after serving his two match suspension for a direct red card and is joined by defender Munmun Lugun as the second change in the 18-man squad.

Hosts Dempo have undergone a lot of changes since the last time Pune FC faced them. Coach Trevor Morgan is now in charge after replacing Arthur Papas and the Englishman has shuffled the squad bringing in a lot of reserve players into the lineup.

Despite logging a win in their previous game, Dempo has only been able to grab two wins in the I-League so far. Moreover, at home the Goans have managed to clinch just one win, along with two draws and losses since the start of the season.

Furthermore, having scored just nine goals so far in twelve games, Dempo, the second lowest goalscorers after Bharat FC, have also failed to find the net in six games and will be depending heavily for their strike front of Holicharan Narzary, Alwyn George and Francis Fernandes to fire up front.

While Tolgay Ozbey is a doubt for the game, defender Zohib Haroon Amiri is suspended for receiving four yellow cards. In their absence, the other overseas players Carlos Hernandes and Calum Angus will be key for the hosts with the likes of Lenny Rodrigues and Mandar Rao Dessai adding to the options in the midfield.

For ex- Pune FC defender Calum Angus, it will the first time he will be facing his old club having missed out on the first leg due to injury. Joining him will be another ex-Pune FC winger Gabriel Fernandes who too will be up against his old side.

Over the years, both sides have faced off thirteen times with Pune FC boasting a better head-to-head record with six wins compared to Dempo’s three. Furthermore, Pune FC also have an upper hand in away games against Dempo with two wins compared to one and will be keen to build on this record.

The match kicks off at 19.00 IST on Saturday and will be LIVE on Ten Action.