HIL: Defending champions Delhi Waveriders take on Kalinga Lancers

Bhubaneswar: Defending champions Delhi Waveriders take on bottom-placed Kalinga Lancers in their first leg match of the Hero Hockey India League at Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday.

Delhi Waveriders have collected 15 points from two wins, two losses and two draws and they would look to register another victory to improve their position from the fourth spot they are occupying now in the six-team league.

On the other hand, with a lone win to their credit in the league so far, home team Kalinga Lancers are sitting at the bottom with only nine points and will take the field with a sole intention of recording a win against the Waveriders and ascend in the league standings.

Kalinga Lancers lost their last match against Dabang Mumbai by a solitary goal in a tightly contested game.

Kalinga Lancers and Delhi Waveriders met twice in the previous edition of Hero Hockey India League in 2014. On both the occasions, Delhi Waveriders have won 5-0 and 4-3.

As Delhi Waveriders will be looking to continue their winning spree over Kalinga Lancers tomorrow, the hosts will aim at avenging their past defeats.

Speaking about tomorrow's match, of Kalinga Lancers head coach Jude Felix said, "The team has been training really hard and our aim is to win every match that we play from here on. It is going to be an interesting match tomorrow as Delhi Waveriders is a tough team and as they are the defending champions their sole motive will be to retain the title.

"We will try and use Delhi Waveriders' previous defeat against Jaypee Punjab Warriors to our benefit, as we have learned that though the Waveriders' squad is pretty strong, there are quite a few loopholes that may prove to be advantageous for us," Felix said.

Delhi Waveriders head coach Cedric D'Souza said, "The mistakes committed during the last match are being observed minutely and the boys are working rigorously to improve their game. We have the skills and we can do much better in the League," he said.

"We are working towards our attacking strategies and to better approach during circle penetrations, in order to build up as many opportunities as possible," he added.