Bolstered by a slew of new signings, Hougang United are hoping to put their poor Great Eastern Yeo's S.League form behind them when they host Brunei DPMM in their The New Paper (TNP) League Cup Group A opener on Tuesday night.
Hougang and DPMM are drawn in Group A along with Geylang International and semi-professional side Singapore Recreation Club. The top two sides will progress into the semifinals.
After a disastrous start to their league campaign which saw them claiming just one win in 11 matches, the Hougang management have wasted little time in ringing in the changes.
Renshi Yamaguchi, Shunsuke Nakatake, Takahashi Manato and Francisco "Chupe" Ela have been released from the club. Carlos Delgado, Atsushi Shimono, Diego Gama and Vuk Sotirovic will be unveiled as their replacements on Monday.
Meanwhile, former Courts Young Lions man Delwinder Singh has also been roped in to plug in the gaps in defence where lynchpin Kunihiro Yamashita is still recovering from a long layoff due to injury.
If their results in the friendlies during the month-long break for the SEA Games are indicators, things could be going on the upward curve for the new-look Cheetahs side.
Hougang started off the friendlies with a 1-1 draw and a 1-0 victory against Malaysian sides Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) II and Sime Darby respectively. They then claimed an emphatic 4-1 victory against fellow S.League side Geylang International which was followed by a creditable 2-2 draw against Albirex Niigata, who are second in the S.League standings.
Hougang's new forward line -- the returning Gama and Serbia-born Sotirovic -- accounted for seven out of the eight goals scored in the four friendlies.
Speaking to ESPN FC, coach Salim Moin believes he now has a squad that can do well in the Cup and also push for a better league position.
"These new players can bring the stability which this team needs," said Salim. "In the friendlies during the international break, I could see the local boys doing well in the presence of the new foreign additions. They're starting to gel together as a team and understanding each other better.
"We now have the forwards to score goals and also the backline looks more balanced with the inclusion of Delwinder. The quality that has been added to the team will help lift our performances."
However, defeating Brunei DPMM will not be easy. Steve Kean's side are the defending champions and have plenty of firepower up front. Rafael Ramazotti and Paulo Sergio have combined for 16 out of their 17 goals this season.
Brunei won 3-2 in their earlier meeting of the season in Hougang Stadium. However, Salim believes his side will be able to put up a good fight against the much-fancied Wasps.
"The Cup is a different ball game from the league. We've played them once before, so we know their strengths and weaknesses," said the 53-year-old coach.
"We're aware that we have to stop them from playing the high ball to the tall Ramazotti. We also need to cut off the supply coming in from the left and right. However, I must say that we'll not be a punching bag. My team can definitely rise to the occasion."
Hougang and DPMM are drawn in Group A along with Geylang and semi-professional side Singapore Recreation Club. The top two sides will progress into the semifinals.
Hougang United Probable Lineup: Ridhuan Barudin (GK), Faizal Amir, Tengku Mushadad, Delwinder Singh, Lau Meng Meng, Nurhilmi Jasni (C), Carlos Delgado, Atsushi Shimono, Fareez Farhan, Vuk Sotirovic, Diego Gama.
Brunei DPMM Probable Lineup: Wardun Yussof (GK), Joe Gamble, Brian McLean, Boris Raspudic, Sairol Sahari, Aminuddin Zakwan, Hendra Azam, Rosmin Kamis (C), Azwan Ali, Paulo Sergio, Rafael Ramazotti.