Calcutta/Bangalore: Defending Champions Bengaluru FC will start this year's Hero I-League campaign as favourites when they take on five-time winners Dempo in the tournament opener, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, on Saturday.

The matches to be held in the city have been shifted to the Kanteerava from the Bengaluru Football Stadium as the latter is set for a major renovation in a bid to host 2017 Fifa Junior World Cup matches.

Bengaluru had a fantastic debut last year as they won the title with a league of good players in their repertoire — India captain Sunil Chetri, together with forwards Sean Rooney and Robin Singh, all of who played stellar role in helping their team clinch the title in their very first season among the elites of Indian football.

Not far behind were the performances of John Johnson and Curtis Osano, both of whom were as good as error-free in manning the defence. For Dempo, they would certainly look to avenge the Federation Cup final defeat, which Ashley Westwood’s side won 2-1, in Margao.

Bengaluru have strengthened their team this season by drafting quality players in England’s Joshua Walker, promising 18-year-old rookie Udanta Singh and experienced midfielder and former Rangdajied United FC captain Eugeneson Lyngdoh. Joshua, however, looks doubtful for the opener.

Irrespective of Dempo’s strength and consistency, Bengaluru have been unbeaten against the Goan giants, who are in a rebuilding mould, in the previous three meeting between the two sides. “Being the champions and playing at home, the pressure will be on us for sure. But our coach has told us to focus more on performance than the result,” emphasised Chetri.

Even though Dempo are a very tough side to beat, Chetri said Bengaluru would be going into the game with a positive frame of mind. “We have had great encounters on earlier occasions, but we will take the field with positive frame of mind tomorrow,” he said.

Coach Ashley Westwood feels his men have worked on their fitness level in last five months and conditioned well for a long tournament ahead. “Other than Joshua, who picked up an injury in the Federation Cup final, the rest of the team looks fine.

“We are in great form… We only hope to be consistent and carry forward the form we have been showing till the end of the season,” said Westwood.

On the other hand, Dempo's Clifford Miranda feels that Bengaluru are the defending champions and the team to beat. Having said that, Dempo have come to win with a bunch of young talented players, reminded Clifford.