GNIEZNO: Apart from a bumpy pitch, Malaysia face a tough obstacle in Pakistan in their opening Group B hockey match at the Nations Cup in Gniezno, Poland, tomorrow.
The Speedy Tigers eye revenge against the Green Shirts after twice losing to them in the past two years.
World No. 13 Malaysia went down 5-2 to world No. 16 Pakistan in the Hangzhou Asian Games last October and 5-4 in the recent Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh.
Malaysia will face World No. 9 France on Sunday and world No. 20 Canada on June 5 in their other group fixtures.
If Malaysia fail to reach the Nations Cup semi-finals, their world ranking will go down.
Group A comprises Austria, New Zealand, South Korea, South Africa and hosts Poland.
National coach Sarjit Singh is hoping that goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman, who injured his shoulder in a friendly match against New Zealand (Malaysia lost 4-1) on Monday, will recover for the Pakistan game.
Faizal Saari, who injured his knee in the friendly match against Poland (Malaysia lost 2-0) last week, has recovered.
Sarjit said: "Pakistan are serious about the tournament as they went to the Netherlands for training and matches.
"But I have faith in my players. I believe they will rise to the occasion and get the better of Pakistan," said Sarjit.
Pakistan, guided by Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans, finished second in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup while Malaysia came in fourth.