Mahindras have almost a new look side from last year and well balanced with some of the old guards faithfully doing their duty. Samshi Raza, Manjit Singh and Naushad Moosa are the three prize catches from East Bengal.

Shantakumar, the former Dempo medio and a veteran used to the tougher grind of Calcutta football league, is the other vital cog.

Bernard and Loolo, the two Nigerian powerhouses, should lend solidity to their attack and the bank defence is sure to have a tough time stopping their aggressive instincts. The unsettling factor is the injuries to two of their key players. Stopper Sushant Mazumdar and goalkeeper Gumpe Rime are the casualties. But coach SS Hakeem dismissed it off as minor aberrations ``with the bench strength good enough to negate their loss.''

Always the team towake up late, the bankmen had a shaky start this time too. A solitary goal loss against ITI looked one of those things but the 1-5 hammering from FC Kochin was a rude jolt. Coach Albert Fernando said, ``there has to be a shuffle in the line-up to set things right and acceded that a win on the morrow will be worth much more than the three points at stake''.

East Bengal favourites

BANGALORE: Strong contenders for the title East Bengal start as favourites to win the Group B fixture against Indian Telephone Industries at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Sunday. The Calcutta side began their NFL campaign with a 2-0 win against FC Kochin, but were held goalless by an inspired Salgaocar in their next outing. ITI, too kicked-off with a win -- against Indian Bank, but their performance in their next match -- against Mahindras, which they lost 1-2 was anything but impressive.

Leading the East Bengal attack would be two of the most talented strikers in the country Bhaichung Bhutia and Raman Vijayan. Withthe midfield support of Carlton Chapman and Renedy Singh, the duo should play true to their fame.The Telephonemen have problems. The combination of the local players with the Kyrgyz trio -- Kiril Keker, Sergey Kaliubin and Aleksey Drobotov was virtually non-existing in both the previous outings. Players like RC Prakash, Ravi Babu and Suresh Babu, in the attack, will have to lift their game a notch up to enhance ITI's chances in the league.