Kings XI Punjab would have watched the results unfold over the last few days and realised: "hey, we have a really good chance of making the IPL 2017 playoffs." With five matches to play for KXIP, that top four destiny lies in their own hands – win four out of five, starting with the one on Friday against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, and they should be fighting it out with in the final week of this season's Indian Premier League.
After a really impressive performance against the Delhi Daredevils, when they shot down DD for just 67 before chasing down the runs without losing a single wicket, KXIP would have actually liked to have continued playing, instead of having to take a break for five days.
Glenn Maxwell will hope that break has not taken away the momentum that would have been created by that victory.
They will be helped by the fact that this game will be against an RCB side with nothing to play for. The Royal Challengers Bangalore are already out of the competition, and all they can do in their remaining three matches is salvage some pride.
Pride salvaging is not quite as motivating as going for a top four spot, so KXIP do have the advantage in this game, even if it is being played at the Chinnaswamy.
While the Chinnaswamy has been RCB's fortress over the years, this season the stadium hasn't been too kind.
In five matches played at the Chinnaswamy, RCB have managed just one win, with the slow nature of the pitch doing them absolutely no favours.
The reason RCB were such a feared team at home was because of the conditions – a great batting pitch on a small ground with three superstar batsmen, capable of creaming any bowling attack.
Take the great batting pitch away, and you are left with a big problem – the likes of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers, who like the ball coming onto the bat, cannot quite express themselves like they want to.
The slower the pitch, the harder it is for the strokemakers, and the relaid surface has done RCB absolutely no favours this season.
Kings XI are also a the-better-the-pitch-for-batting-the-better-their-chances-of-winning team, so it isn't as if the away side will have a great advantage.
KXIP, however, have batted better than RCB in IPL 2017 and have more confidence flowing through them, with the fact that they trumped the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the reverse fixture in Indore also helping in that regard, so this will be a match that Glenn Maxwell and co. will fancy winning.
However, Kings XI Punjab will do well to be wary of a wounded RCB team, because with absolutely nothing to lose, you just might get to see the best performance of the season from Kohli, Gayle, De Villiers and the rest.
When and where to watch live
RCB vs KCIP is set to begin at 8 pm IST (3.30pm BST). Live Streaming and TV information is below.
India: TV: Sony Six, Sony Six HD (English), Sony Max (Hindi), Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD (Tamil, Telugu, Bengali). Live Streaming: Hotstar.
UK: TV: Sky Sports 3. Live Streaming: Watch Sky Sports.
USA: TV: Willow TV. Live Streaming: Willow TV Online.
South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa: TV: SuperSport Two. Live Streaming: SuperSport Live Video.
Middle East: TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD. Live Streaming: OSN Play.
International: Live Streaming: Cricketgateway.
