The Crocs face stiff competition when they take on Pahang FA in Stadium Darul Makmur tomorrow.
With the strike force still as good as depleted, the Crocs head coach Robert Alberts would be looking at winning this game through tactical supremacy, similar to what he did when they took on Lions XII at Stadium Negeri last weekend.
The Crocs also changed their normal flight schedule, arriving at Kuantan two days in advance, believed not wanting to repeat the same mistake they made against T-Team where the players only arrived 24-hours before kick-off, and looked tired on the pitch.
But Pahang will provide the Crocs a run for their money nonetheless, as the team which knocked Sarawak out of the Malaysia cup last season, are expected to do their utmost to defend their good record against the Crocs at home this Saturday.
Matias Conti and local boy Mohd Hafiz Kamal would be eager to break down the defenses as they look to complete incoming crosses and passes from their fast flanks and creative midfielders like R Surendran, R Gopinathan, Faizol Hussain and Fauzi Roslan.
During Sarawak’s last meeting with Pahang, Gopinathan and Surendran ran rounds around their markers, and Robert would be wary not to be caught in the same way again this time around.
On-form Dickson Nwakaeme would be someone to watch for as the strong forward can produce miracles when called upon.
At defence, the likes of Damion Steward whom helped curtail Sarawak’s offensive line in their previous meeting would be enough to be a worry for the striker-less Sarawak side, with Mohd Razman Roslan, Mohd Saiful Nizam Miswan, Mohd Shahrizan Mohd Salleh and Zeshan Rehman providing additional cover for goalkeeper Khairul Azhan.
Scouts at UltraCrocs have informed us that Pahang do tend to play with Dickson and Matias when playing at home, as they look to enforce their defences when in the lead.
Sarawak will however enter this game with caution, as the Crocs look to avoid defeat to what could be considered a mighty Pahang side.
With the likes of key players in Akmal Rizal, Zamri Morshidi, Junior Eldstal, Dzulazlan Ibrahim, Milorad Janjus and Muamer Salibasic not 100% fit, it is very likely the Crocs would be keen to defend for a draw with the Crocs relying heavily on counter attacks and set pieces.
OUR BIASED PREDICTION: PAHANG FA 1-1 SARAWAK FA
