Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Rhinos are hoping to turn their season around with a win over one of the favourites in the Premier League, Negeri Sembilan at the Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman tonight (Tuesday).Head coach Vjeran Simunic when contacted Monday said Negeri Sembilan are the only top team that they have yet to play and he hoped the players will rise to the occasion and get a victory."Negeri Sembilan are the only top five team in the league that we have yet to play this season. Despite their position, I am confident of (getting) a good result if my players play to their ability.
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"We have always played well against the top teams such as Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, JDT II and PKNS and I hope we will repeat the same performance and hopefully this time, luck will not desert us."No doubt we lost our matches against these top teams but they were slim losses and in most cases it could have gone either way. I am not finding excuses but we came so close on many occasions."
He also said the absence of three key players in the team for the match will not bother him."We will be missing Leopold Alfonso, Nazri Ahmad and Radzi Hussin through suspension and injuries for the match.
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But that is okay, I have trained my players to play in different positions and that is what I intend to do with them tomorrow night."Igor who has been missing for the past few matches is travelling with us. That is a positive sign but I still need to check whether he can start the match tomorrow.
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"I will most likely to start the match with the same set of players against JDT II in our previous match with the exception of Leopold who can be substituted by both Maxsius Musa and Umareng Bacok on the flanks."
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Barring any changes, Rozaimi Rohim will start in goal with defenders Randy Baruh, Jenius Karib, Alto Linus, Rawilson Batuil.The midfield will see Dedi Kusnabdar and Azzizan Nordin supported by Maxsius and Umareng from the flanks with Marco Tulio and Prince Nnake up front.
