Brothers' home match, which kicks off at 4pm, will be telecast live by Channel i from the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

In December 2005, Nayeem was comfortably leading the Indian national team when his boys blanked Diego Cruciani's Bangladesh 2-0 in the SAFF finale in Karachi.

Both the coaches have lost their ways with the national team following poor results but Argentine coach Cruciani's decision to return to Dhaka and guide Abahani has once again pitted the two on the field.

Although its Cruciani's first year in Bangladesh as a club coach, the wily Nayeem have had his stint with the same Oranges, who won their first ever league title under the former Indian international two seasons earlier.

Brothers, however, are not in the same league after losing key players. The struggling Gopibagh giants, eighth in the table with eight points from six matches, come to the game on the back of a 2-0 loss to Muktijoddha while the sky-blues are eyeing the top spot as a win will take them two points clear of leaders Sheikh Russel.

"That day was different," told Nayeemuddin remembering the India-Bangladesh final in the Pakistani port city.

"The only thing similar is I will have a plan. My boys implemented it that day and if these boys can do it tomorrow, Brothers will win although Abahani are the strongest team on paper," he said.

At Dhanmondi, Cruciani also did not bother about the past but felt uncomfortable at the thought of losing Argentine defender Mariano Caporale -- the most impressive performer of the season so far -- through a knee injury and playmaker Ujjal through a groin strain.

Abahani have the strongest bench and Pradeep will take Caporale's place in central defence while Abul will come in for his fellow national attacker Ujjal.

"We had a great tournament in Pakistan but the players were not good on the final day. It cost us the championship," said Cruciani.

"Actually, who is the opponent coach doesn't really matter, its just another match that we have to win. I am a bit relieved after improvement in my attack line."

Abahani, one of the two unbeaten sides, scored only two goals in their first four outings but found the opposition net five times in the last two.

When reminded his team's position ahead of Brothers, Cruciani said he does not believe in upper hands. "Any big team, like Barcelona did last night, can lose on a particular day. So everything depends on how the players react on the field. My team are playing well now and I feel they will get better match by match," the Argentine added.