Kota Kinabalu: Coach Mike Mulvey is confident Sabah Rhinos are up to the task against DRB Hicom in the Premier League match at the Stadium Hang Jebat in Melaka tonight (Friday)."I am very pleased actually with the good rest because last week was a heavy schedule with three games in seven days."And the boys felt that as they are not used to playing three games in seven days in this league, and it was a good effort to get seven points from nine.
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"This gave us extra opportunity to rest and to prepare properly so I am very confident that we will put up a good display tomorrow."I am always confident because we got some good players at our disposal but you can never be over confident, you always respect the opposition and the game."
He added that every game is important to them now as they try to push for a top two finish at the end of the season."Every game is important from here on end. There are 10 games to go and it is going to be unforgiving in the last few weeks from the August schedule because we play seven games in 21 days and points on the board are very important.
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"We are on the road this weekend. We will come back and play on Tuesday and I hope there will be a full house in the stadium."Sabah had a tough time in the first round match against DRB Hicom back in February when they had to come back twice to beat them 3-2 here at the Likas Stadium.
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Skipper EL Hadji Diouf scored the opening goal followed by Azizan Nordin and Shafuan Adli.Sabah will have a fully fit squad this time with all four imports Diouf, Eamon Zayed, Abdoulaye Faye and Joey Chianese starting.
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Fadli Paat is as usual expected to start in goal with Faye, Hardi Parsi in the centre of defence and Kahiri Kiman may come in the left back position after recovering from injury while Leopold Alfonso who had a good game in the last match is on the right.Faizol Nazlin Sayuti who netted the winner against Kuala Lumpur is likely to be the playmaker with the fast improving Rawilson Batuil as the defensive midfield supported by Diouf and Ezaidy Khadar from the flanks while Eamon and Joel will spearhead the attack.
