After their goalless stalemate with Harimau Muda on Tuesday night, Balestier Khalsa's Marko Kraljevic admitted that his team's challenge for the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League title is almost over.
However, the Croatian coach still believes firmly in their ability to finish in the top three, which would be their best league achievement under their current incarnation.
Ending a run of three matches without victory on Sunday will be the first step to getting back on track for the Tigers, when they travel to Malacca to face Harimau Muda once again.
"For us, it's very important, if we can win our next game, we can aim for the top three," Kraljevic told ESPN FC. "I think it's still very much within our reach to be there and I think we are good enough to be there."
The Toa Payoh-based outfit will be boosted by the return of Yusiskandar Yusop and Poh Yi Feng, who were suspended for the past two matches. They have both been involved in 14 of the team's 20 league games this season.
With three other first-team players injured for the long term, the duo's absence was felt particularly hard and resulted in Balestier having to name four Prime League players on the bench the last time out.
For a team who did not have a large squad to start with, the unfortunate timing of the injuries and suspensions has impacted their results.
"I think at this part of the season, we are missing some freshness in the team, especially in the second half when we need somebody to change the game, to give us that extra boost," Kraljevic acknowledged.
However, he insisted that his side will continue to plug on in their bid for a strong finish to the season.
With seven matches left, Balestier sit fourth on the table and are one point behind Albirex Niigata (S), although the Japanese side have one game in hand. Tampines Rovers lurk in fifth, three points further back but having played two fewer matches.
However, Razip Ismail's charges, who have now picked up two consecutive draws after losing seven out of nine games before that, are likely to again be tough to break down. The young Malaysians worked hard to deny Balestier space and will be confident of holding their own again at Hang Jebat Stadium.
"The way we played, the way the boys held their own; we were a match for Balestier, we just couldn't score the goal," Razip noted.
Squad depth is less of an issue for him as well with a large pool of players and there is likely to be rotation as they prepare to play their fifth game in the span of just 16 days.
Harimau Muda Probable Lineup: Farhan Abu Bakar, Kenny Pallraj, Wan Ahmad Amirzafran (C), Annas Rahmat, Asri Mardzuki, Akhir Bahari, Adam Nor Azlin, Irfan Zakaria, Shahrul Igwan Samsudin, Ridzuan Abdunloh, Syafwan Syahlan
Balestier Khalsa Probable Lineup: Zaiful Nizam (C), Yusiskandar Yusop, Emir Lotinac, Igor Cerina, Nurullah Hussein, Zulkiffli Hassim, Poh Yi Feng, Tarik Cmajcanin, Ignatius Ang, Robert Pericic, Miroslav Kristic
"We have to fight for every game, hoping that every game we can get at least one or three points," he asserted. "We must improve from our [last place] position last season and then we target to finish around fifth."
Brunei DPMM Probable Lineup: Wardun Yussof, Aminuddin Zakwan, Boris Raspudic, Brian McLean, Sairol Sahari, Hendra Azam, Joseph Gamble, Rosmin Kamis (C), Paulo Sergio, Shahrazen Said, Rafael Ramazotti
Harimau Muda Probable Lineup: Ramdhan Hamid, Azrul Nizam Muhammad, Syawal Nordin, Annas Rahmat, Nazirul Naim, Shahrul Igwan Samsudin, Amirul Hisyam (C), Adam Nor Azlin, Syahrul Azwari, Syafwan Syahlan, Syazwan Andik