From among the four teams jostling for the lone available semi-final slot in second edition of Hero ISL, Chennaiyin FC are presently better-placed on the league table ahead of FC Pune City and NorthEast United FC - with a higher chance of making the knockout stage.
Chennaiyin FC will be guaranteed of a place in the semi-finals if they can put it across their next two opponents - Mumbai City and FC Pune City. They can also qualify with four points, if NorthEast United FC do not win by more than 13 goals in their concluding clash against FC Pune City in Guwahati on December 2.
"We have not qualified as yet. Tomorrow will be the most important game," Materazzi said at the pre-match briefing.
"As I said after the ATK game, everything depends on us. Our guys have done well to create two victories and now we need to win another two games. It's the players who make the difference," said the Italian World Cup winner.
Mathematically there is still a possibility that Mumbai City FC can qualify for the play-offs but they will have to come up with a near impossible performance of not only winning their next two games but also pray for other games to go in their favour.
"We came here to play a good game. Mathematically it's still possible and we know we have to win this game. The players should believe in it since in football anything is possible. We have to do our best on the field," said Mumbai's marquee manager-player Nicolas Anelka.
"We know Chennai very well. We know they are strong and play good football. They have fast players like Mendoza upfront. We have to be careful. It's going to be hard," said Anelka.
Mumbai City FC lost their home game against Chennaiyin FC 0-2 in the first leg with Mendoza scoring both the goals.
