Kingfisher East Bengal’s Tolgay Ozebe (from left), Robin Singh and Saumik Dey during a practice session, at the club ground, on Wednesday. A Telegraph picture

Calcutta: A tactical battle will be on the cards when an in-form Kingfisher East Bengal side take on leaders Dempo in a ninth round I-League match, at the Salt lake Stadium, on Thursday.

Dempo are five points clear of fifth-placed East Bengal (16 points) and will be cautious not to drop points. East Bengal, on the other hand, will look to give a compact performance from the outset.

Tolgay Ozebe, East Bengal’s formidable striker, said that he does not want any slip up at this stage of the competition as they have a real chance of closing the gap on Dempo.

“It will be a huge setback for us if we lose the match. We need a draw or a win to stay in the competition,” said Tolgay.

East Bengal coach Trevor James Morgan said they will be playing their natural game, on Thursday.

“It is an important match for us. We are chasing the leaders and we can close the gap on table toppers Dempo if we win the match. But then we will not play any differently than our natural style,” said Morgan.

East Bengal will also be buoyed by Alan Gow’s return. Gow, who has recovered from his thigh injury, was seen at the practice session at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.

However, it’s unlikely that Gow will figure in the first XI. Striker Seiminlen Doungel is expected to debut in the I-League. He will partner Tolgay upfront as Robin Singh is nursing a groin injury.

The midfield is likely to be manned by Mehtab Hussain, Penn Orji, Sanju Pradhan and Reisangmi Vashum. In the defence, Gurwinder Singh, Uga Okpara, Naoba Singh and Robert Lalthlamuana are expected to play.

Mehtab Hussain, East Bengal’s midfielder, said that his side needs to give their best if they want to defeat the well-knit Goan outfit.

“Dempo have players who have been playing for a long time. Players like Clifford (Miranda) and Climax (Lawrence) have been serving the club for the last five to six years and that is why they gel so well, much like Barcelona,” said Mehtab.

Dempo coach Armando Colaco, meanwhile, said that there is no added pressure on his side. “East Bengal are a good team, but this is not a do-or-die match for us. We will obviously go in to get the full three points, but if we cannot do that then it’s not the end of the world.”

Today’s matches

Kingfisher East Bengal vs Dempo SC (2.15 pm), Salgaocar SC vs Pune FC