Terengganu in confident mood Mat Zan's team boast star striker Forkey, who could face a LionsXII side without Baihakki

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SINGAPORE - Fighting injuries and suspensions, the LionsXII face their biggest test so far in the Malaysian Super League (MSL) when they take on reigning FA Cup champions Terengganu at Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday.

Malaysia's east coast giants finished second in the MSL last year and occupy the same spot after four games this season, one point behind defending champions Kelantan.

Terengganu have placed their faith in Mat Zan Mat Aris, the man who led them to their only Malaysia Cup victory in 2001.

He was appointed coach in November, days after Negri Sembilan beat them in last season's Malaysia Cup final.

With the arrival of much-vaunted striker Francis Doe Forkey from Liberia and Brazilian midfielder Baiano of Brazil, Mat Zan, who turns 54 next month, is convinced this is Terengganu's year.

Speaking to Today from Kuala Terengganu yesterday, Mat Zan was generous in his assessment of V Sundramoorthy's side.

Speaking over the phone, he said: "After four games, the LionsXII must know the style of Malaysian teams. And you have a hardworking striker (Agu Casmir) that we have to be careful of. Your defence is pretty solid.

"We have a few players in the Malaysian national team and Harimau Muda who have played on the artificial turf at Jalan Besar, but it is something new for most of my players and it is a slight problem and Singapore have some advantage."

News from the LionsXII camp yesterday would have been music to the ears of the Terengganu coach.

Defender Baihakki Khaizan, one of the standout players in Sundram's side so far, is nursing a knee injury and went for an MRI scan yesterday. The result will be known today and if the 27-year-old central defender is ruled out of the game, then Forkey and Co could pose an even bigger threat.

With a balanced squad featuring a star attacker and a defence that features Malaysian internationals Faizal Muhammad, Mazlizam Mohamad and Zubir Azmi, Mat Zan's confidence is understandable.

"Moving forward, we have players like midfielder Ashaari Shamsuddin, also with the national squad, who has been instrumental in creating the chances for us," he said.

"But our two imports are key to our championship ambitions this year. Forkey has only played two games and has already scored three goals and he is yet to show off his best. Baiano has also given us more width in midfield."

In Mat Zan, Terengganu have a man who knows how to win. As a midfielder, he was with the Malaysian national squad that won the SEA Games gold against Singapore in 1989. He was also part of the Kuala Lumpur side that won the Malaysia Cup from 1987 to 1989.

He is looking forward to his trip to Singapore to catch up with former KL team-mates, Fandi Ahmad and Malek Awab.

"Those were the best years of my football career and they were part of the KL team that won the Malaysia Cup with me," he said. "It will be good to relive some of the memories of those great times we had together."