MALAYSIA Hockey League (MHL) Premier Divison Leaders Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) believe they will be fighting the battles of their lives this weekend to keep their title hopes alive.
KLHC top the standings on 19 points, just one point away from double champions Terengganu Hockey team, and hope to survive against UniKL today, and Sapura Sunday.
"In Round One, both these matches were close as we drew 3-3 with Sapura and could only beat UniKL 1-0. I believe we will have to bring out our best to claim six points thiw weekend, and then only can we play for the final League fixture on Sept 4," said KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj.
Sept 4 is when KLHC meet Terengganu HT (THT).
As for THT they play their final three matches at home in Batu Buruk, starting with Tenaga today and Maybank Sunday.
"If we maintain our form, and THT win both their matches, the last fixture against THT will decide the title. Thats why this weekend is seen as do-ro-die for both the teams," said Dharmaraj.
THT have a good record playing at home, and their only blemish this season was 6-2 drubbing in the hands of KLHC in the curtain raiser Charity Shield match.
"To say that we will have an easy time against UniKL is far-fetched, as even though they have 12 Project 2016 players, they have shown great determination and fighting spirit," said Dharmaraj.
For the record, UniKL have yet to win or draw a match this season, but all their matches went to the wire.
As for THT coach Sarjit Singh, he will be banking on home support: "The crowd at Batu Buruk has been simply great and with their backing, we hope to win all three matches and defend our title."
RESULT: Premier Division -- Sapura x Maybank x.
TODAY: Premier Division -- KLHC v UniKL (6pm, Pitch II), Terengganu HT v Tenaga (Batu Buruk, 6pm).
Division One: Group A: MASUM USM v TNB Thunderbolts (KLHA, 5pm), MSN-THT v BJSS (batu Buruk, 4pm); Group B: ATM Airod v SSTMI (Tun Razak, 7pm), PKS-KPM v UiTM (5pm, Pitch I), Nur Insafi v Politeknik (Sg Petani, 5pm).
Women: Group A: ATM Pernama v Politeknik (Tun Razsak, 5pm).
TOMORROW: Division One: Group B: PKS-KPM v UniKL Young Guns (7pm, Pitch I).
SUNDAY: Premier Division -- Sapura v KLHC (6pm, Pitch II), Terengganu v Maybank (Batu Buruk, 6pm), uniKL v Tenaga (8pm, Pitch II).
Division One: Group A: MSP-YPSSP v BJSS (Kuantan, 5pm), MBI v MSNT-THT (Azlan Shah, 5pm); Group B: UiTM v UniKL Young Guns (5pm, Pitch I), Nur Insafi v SSTMI (Sg Petani, 5pm), ATM Airod v Politeknik (Tun Razak, 5pm).
PREMIER DIVISION
P W D L F A pts
KLHC 7 6 1 0 20 9 19
TERENGGANU HT 7 6 0 1 25 11 18
SAPURA 7 3 1 3 12 14 10
TENAGA 7 3 0 4 10 16 9
MAYBANK 6 1 0 5 8 16 3
UNIKL 6 0 0 6 7 16 0