Puneri Paltan and Bengal Warriors hope to produce a re-energised display as they go head-to-head in their Pro Kabaddi League 2015 match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, on Wednesday.
After failing to make the most of their home turf in the kabaddi league this season, the Warriors will have to live up to their name to make a strong comeback on 29 June.
With just a single win and four losses, the Bengal side are languishing at the seventh position in the table and if they need to at least make it to the top four, they need to start working harder now.
However, with key players out due to injuries, the task has become more difficult now. Key defender Nilesh Shinde and skipper Dinesh Kumar are the two heavyweight names who will miss Wednesday's game as they got injured in the last game against Dabang Delhi in Kolkata.
Bajirao Hodage is another player who will be missing the game.
Bengal coach Raj Narain Sharma is not at all happy as he knows what lies ahead, and the injuries to the key players only makes the hurdles more difficult to overcome.
"Three of our main players are suffering with major injuries. It seems to be difficult for Dinesh Kumar, Nilesh Shinde and Bajirao Hogage to play in Jaipur. Still we are waiting for the final reports from the doctors," Sharma was quoted as saying.
"Captain Dinesh Kumar is well, but not in a condition to play. All 3 players will not play in the match against Puneri Paltan."
Puneri Paltan, meanwhile, also need to step up their game as it seems like it is a foregone conclusion for them to make it to the top this year. With just three points in four games and an equal number of losses so far, it is now-or-never for the Maharashtra side.
Wazir Singh has to step up for the Pune side and lead them to a favourable result on Wednesday as they go into the game as the underdogs. But, the Bengal coach is not at all content with going into the game as the favourites as he knows that work needs to be done, and it will be a big challenge.
"We have 3 empty positions in the final 7 left cover, right corner and one all-rounder. New players will get chance in Jaipur according to the empty positions," Sharma continued.
"We will try to perform good in absence of our main players. It will be a big challenge for us against Puneri Paltan. I am hopeful for that match," he concluded.
The match gets underway at 8 pm IST (3:30pm BST).
Previous meeting - 13 August, 2014: Puneri Paltan 40 - 30 Bengal Warriors
Where to Watch Live:
Pro Kabaddi League: Puneri Paltan vs Bengal Warriors, can be caught LIVE on Star Sports.
Hindi Coverage - Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD 3, Star Gold
English Coverage - Star Sports 2, Star Sports HD 2
Telugu Coverage - Maa Movies
Kannada Coverage - Suvarna Plus
Marathi Coverage - Star Pravah (Sunday Matches only)
UK viewers can catch the action on Life OK
Live streaming will be available on Hotstar and starsports online
