Struggling Mumbai City FC clash with state rivals FC Pune City at D Y Patil Stadium tomorrow in the return leg of their Indian Super League football's Maharashtra Derby, seeking a crucial victory in their quest to make the last four grade.
Placed 6th in the eight-team League, the Nicolas Anelka-managed side need a win in their second-last home game to leap into the top four on the table led by FC Goa with 15 points.
With just one other home game scheduled, against Kerala Blasters on November 26 after tomorrow's match, a lot hinges on the contest - also a revenge clash for Mumbai after their 1-3 humiliation in the away first leg - against Pune.
Pune, on the other hand, are sitting pretty in second spot - one point behind leaders Goa - and a victory would pitchfork the David Platt-coached side back into the top spot on the table.
Mumbai had things going very much their way following a hat-trick of home wins over Delhi Dynamos, FC Goa and North East United FC, before a 4-1 thrashing by last year's champions Atletico de Kolkata upset their rhythm.
The defeat came in a match when marquee player cum manager Anelka shed the latter role to take up the mantle of the main striker.
But this move seemed to have upset the settled combine up front, which included India skipper Sunil Chhetri playing as the central striker, and a big defeat occurred.
This was followed by a 1-1 draw against the Dynamos, but off-the-field troubles arose ahead of this game resulting in assistant coach Oscar Bruzon parting ways with the team.
Mumbai may not be in the best frame of mind following these happenings and Pune, also seeking a win after the last-gasp 2-2 draw on November 8 at home against table leaders Goa, would be eager to exploit any such weakness.
Pune possess a dependable set of defenders, efficient mid-fielders and good strikers - including marquee player Adrian Mutu who started the match and ended it with a stoppage time goal too against Goa - to turn the tables on a less-than-fully settled Mumbai.
