KUALA LUMPUR: During the recent two-week international break, KL City and Selangor were busy plotting each other's downfall.
The two Super League sides clash in the Klang Valley derby at the KLFA Stadium today.
While KL City are still looking for their first league win of the season, Selangor seem to have forged a tight team, and most of their players have been together for some time.
On the other end, the City Boys are far from slick in their attack and defence, leaving them with work to do.
KL coach Bojan Hodak said Kipre Tchetche, Haqimi Azim Rosli, Herlison Caion, Patrick Reichelt and Romel Morales are ready to fire on cylinders today.
"Selangor have a lot of good players, and they have been playing with the same team for a year.
"Though they have that new striker from Colombia (Ayron Del Valle) and a new midfielder (Yohandry Orozco), their team still consist of the same core.
"They are dangerous, so we need to be compact, block their best players," said Hodak.
KL, who reached last year's AFC Cup final, will be without first-choice goalkeeper Kevin Mendoza, Akram Mahinan and Matko Zirdum (injuries) and Italian midfielder Sebastian Avanzini (suspension) for the Klang Valley derby.
The Red Giants will look to pick themselves up after being floored 4-0 by Johor Darul Ta'zim at the MBPJ Stadium just before the international break.
Cheng Hoe said there is much at stake and much history between the two sides in the Klang Valley derby.
He urged his men to put their chastening loss to JDT behind them and focus on the task at hand.
"Our players got to restore their confidence (after the JDT game).
"Fighting spirit will be high because this is the Klang Valley derby.
"I think Hodak is engaging in psychological warfare. He knows how to motivate his players, and they have a good record at home."
Last season, Selangor did better than KL overall in three matches between them. The Red Giants held the City Boys 3-3 away and 1-1 at home, but were able to prevail 1-0 in the FA Cup.