Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Rhinos will not be under any pressure as they take on high-flying PDRM in the first round FA Cup tie at the MPPJ Stadium in Petaling Jaya tonight starting at 8.45pm.Skipper El Hadji Diouf said Thursday before the team's departure to the national capital: "No pressure on the players. I don't think so, because we are playing against a Super League team."We have nothing to lose in the cup competition unlike in the league game where we are under pressure to produce results."
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He reckoned that a cup tie is unlike playing in the league championship and it is a good opportunity to play against one of the top teams in the Super League."We are going there having fun and just to enjoy the game. Our top priority this season is to finish in the top four in the league and not aiming for the FA Cup, so we will see what happen tomorrow."
He admitted that the team may have to work extra hard in defence with the absence of Abdoulaye Faye due to a hamstring injury."It is gonna to be difficult because he is a massive player for us and one of the best defenders in the Malaysian league but we are gonna to try our very best."
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Faye, who sustained the injury two weeks ago but continued to play for the team in the last two league matches, said he decided to skip the trip to recuperate."I opted not to play because I don't want to take the risk on my injuries and furthermore I don't like to play if I cannot give 110 per cent on the pitch
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"It will be a liability to the team and it will be better for me to take a rest and concentrate on the coming league matches."
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Meanwhile, the team who have been employing a 4-4-2 formation since the start of the season, look set to change to a 4-4-3 in the match tonight based on their last few training sessions under the supervision by newly appointed technical director Mike Mulvey.The three-man attack may feature Diouf, Eamon Zayed and Ezaidy Khadar with Azizan Nordin, Safuan Adli and Leopold Alfonso or Zuraindey Junai in midfield while the four defenders will be Hardy Parsi, Rawilson Batuil, Julamri Muhammad and Alto Linus with Fazli Paat in goal.
