November 17, 2004

The question is not whether Japan will win, but by how many goals. Like little lambs being led into the Saitama slaughterhouse, Radojko Avramovic's Lions are fully aware of the challenge they face but are ready to do battle.

Even though they will not have to face Japan's European-based stars like Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura, Junichi Inamoto & Shinji Ono, the Lions know that a Japan team backed by a 60,000-strong vociferous home crowd is none the less intimidating.

A daunting prospect, no doubt, but Avramovic insists his charges are ready for the encounter.

Speaking from Saitama, the Serbo-Montenegrin said it does not matter that Japan are not fielding their European-based players as they are still a strong side shown by their Asian Cup win. The Japanese also have fanatical home support to back them up. However the players are aware this is one match that they will want to remember for the rest of their lives & adding to that they are facing the best team in Asia at the moment.

Still he know the odds are stacked against his team but Avramovic want to use the match as a warm-up for the upcoming Tiger Cup next month.

Singapore are kicking off the biennial tournament against Vietnam on Dec 7.

Avramovic revealed the players who are going to start the match against Japan will mostly likely be the first 11 for the Tiger Cup & the boys will want to use this opportunity to prove that he did not make a mistake in selecting them. The defence especially as it has been rather shaky over the last few friendly matches & should be looking to make less mistakes.

The Lions go into the Japan clash with skipper Aide Iskandar suspended & Agu Casmir still nursing a groin injury but Lions' ace striker Indra Sahdan Daud, who scored in the first leg, will start the match.

Indra, who has put off surgery to his troubled ankle just to make the Tiger Cup squad, said it is a big match. There is nothing better than playing against Asia's top team in their home stadium. Hopefully, we can play the same way when we played against them in March.