The one positive Pune FC will like to build upon when they take on Chirag United Kerala in an I-League Round-3 is the confidence earned from the comeback made in the last round.

With winning their first game now a priority for the home side, Tuesday evening game at the Balewadi Sports Complex turns out to be a meeting between two sides who have eternally engaged in drama end-results.

Very vivid is the eight-goal thriller played at the very same venue last year, the one-all draw that Pune FC salvaged with a goal off the last kick of the match in Kannur are reasons for the game to be a must-watch. Apart from that, both teams have locked themselves in 5 matches which have produced 22 goals.

While results indicate the fast catching up by the opponents, Pune FC Coach Derrick Perreira opines, “Going by the Indian standards several teams have shown a marked improvement.”

In saying so, Derrick admits that his rival team is a good side with a good crop of youngsters as well as experienced players in skipper Krishnan Ajayan, goalkeeper K Sharat, defenders Charles Dzisah, Isaac Boakeye. “They (CUK) put up a good fight in their last match (v Bagan), played pressing football, which leaves us to simply put our best foot forward in winning three points.”

Pune FC (2 points) after two draws are on 10th position, a position that needs major improvement. “We need to up the tempo. The players are boosted after the determined 30-minute second half fight they staged against Sporting, Goa and I am expecting a better show,” explained the Pune FC coach.

On Pune FC’s run so far, the coach said, “going by the situations we were in where any first match is all about settling down then the fight when in 0-2 in arrears the point earned from both is better than nothing.”

Chirag Kerala who occupy sixth place position on the table with three points also boast of having four ex-PFC in Ajayan, G Vignesh, Gurjinder Singh and Manoj TM. Interestingly, Pune FC have three players from the opponents – custodian Shahinlal Meloly, Karma Tsewang and Othallo Tabia.

Adding to the list of interesting on-field battles is the fact that Ajayan in a matter of nine months will be out on a pitch leading both sides! Last year the medio was PFC skipper in the 4-4 drawn game and on Tuesday he would wear the captain’s arm band for Kerala.

With major overhauls in either side since last season, both sides have players who will be out to prove themselves a point with Shahinlal one among the many, which in a way makes the game as interesting as it can.

Pune FC has no added injuries to worry about, but coach Derrick maintained a distance about the squad composition. “All I will say is that we have good youngsters who need to get a look in and I don’t want to particularly name any,” explained Derrick.

For Pune FC the match will be the third home game, while for CUK it is their third away tie.