On a roll after a hat-trick of wins, title contenders East Bengal will be eyeing to continue their winning momentum when they take on wooden spooners Shillong Lajong in a 15th round I-League encounter in Kolkata on Thursday.
With table leaders Chennai City dropping two crucial points after NEROCA's coming-from-behind draw at Imphal, the Kolkata heavyweights' title march is very much on course as they are in the pack with 28 points from 14 games.
East Bengal will also find themselves with fresh legs as they got a week-long break after their February 10 away match against Real Kashmir in Srinagar was postponed to February 28, following heavy snowfall.
The 19-year-old Mahesh is in sublime form having scored the winner against the defending champions at Panchkula.
And, in their last match, the youngster slotted home from the edge of the box late in the 83rd minute to script a thrilling 3-2 win, giving Churchill a big jolt to their title aspiration.
"We have to give the opponents maximum respect. They are a young team but they have many good players," the East Bengal coach said.
Menendez, however, has done his homework well and said Shillong Lajong love to keep possession of the ball and they are doing it well.
"They put many players in the central zone and play several combinations of passes. Also, they have to very fast strikers and are good at counter attacks." Buoyed by the two wins, Shillong coach Alison Kharsyntiew said they have the belief to beat any team.
"But East Bengal will be a difficult challenge. We hope to give our best for three points. We have to defend well individually," Kharsyntiew said.
"Our main strength is teamwork. We have played well and scored many goals so I hope tomorrow my boys score goals and play well.
"Our strategy is to play attacking football and bank on teamwork. If we can play as a team we can beat any team," Alison said.
