With only five rounds remaining in the 2008-09 season,the Kolkata glamour outfit, who have 23 points as compared to their Mumbai rivals’ 21, is eager to finish in the top six in the 12-team League and are expected to go all out for victory.

East Bengal are currently on a roll with only the 2-2 draw against fellow-Kolkata rivals Mohammedan Sporting in their 17th round tie halting their winning spree which saw them humbling title aspirants Mohun Bagan 3-0.

The red-and-gold brigade started the second phase with a goalless draw against Chirag United before bowing 1-2 here to Mumbai FC. Later they pulled themselves up by the bootstrap to vanquish Air India 3-1, bottom-huggers Vasco 4-1 and Mohun Bagan.

But they have been poor travellers this season, with only the victory over Vasco in Goa their sole success on the road and it’s to be seen whether they buck this trend at the venuewhere they went down to Mumbai FC on their previous visit to this city.

The absence of Ghanaian striker Yusif Yakubu, out with a double booking, is another factor they need to overcome up against the tight defence of Mahindra United. India star Sunil Chhetri scored the second of their two goals in the second half rally against Mohammedan Sporting, with the other Chhetri - Nirmal - scoring the first, and East Bengal would depend on the former’s sharp-shooting skills against the Mumbai side.

Sunil is the leading goalscorer for East Bengal with eight strikes to his credit that has placed him third overall in the race for the Golden Boot in the League. He will be a key man in their quest to notch up their seventh victory in the tournament.

Syed Rahim Nabi, with five goals, is another poacher capable of troubling the Mahindra United defence which will be without captain K Ajayan, who has injured his ankle, for the third match running.