Chennaiyin FC will look to remain in the top-four when they host Kerala Blasters FC in their 2016 Hero Indian Super League encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday evening. The Super Machans are presently fourth in the table with eight points from five matches and even a draw will be enough for them to maintain the status quo. However, a defeat means Kerala Blasters, who also have eight points but from six matches, will for the first time this season enter the top-four, which is significant since the start to their new campaign wasn’t encouraging with back-to-back defeats. With so much at stake and bearing in mind their past rivalry additionally, it is a no-brainer that the first southern derby of the season will be a thrilling one.Head-to-head: Last season, the first encounter between these teams in Kochi ended in a 1-1 draw before Chennaiyin registered a thumping 4-1 win at home. There were four encounters between these two sides in Hero ISL 2014 with the Super Machans winning three (2-1, 1-0 & 3-1) of them but Kerala Blasters FC’s only win by a 3-0 scoreline in the first leg of their semi-final made Chennaiyin’s wins futile since it greatly helped them seal a place in the final.

Form Guide (last five matches):

Chennaiyin FC: D-L-W-W-D

Kerala Blasters FC: L-D-W-D-W

Eli Sabia vs Mohammed Rafi

Eli Sabia has put in solid and reliable performances in his three matches for Chennaiyin so far. Strong in the air, commanding in the penalty box and swift on his feet, Sabia has looked comfortable at the back for the Super Machans in Hero ISL 2016. A smart reader of the game and a good distributor of the ball, the Brazilian defender will be looking to get back to winning ways after a 1-1 draw against FC Pune City in Chennaiyin’s last match.

Mohammed Rafi scored his first goal of the season against FC Goa in the Blasters’ 2-1 win on Monday. The Indian striker will be hoping it’s the first of many after a relatively slow start to his campaign with the Blasters. Strong in the air with an ability to find himself in dangerous areas, the southern derby seems to be the perfect opportunity for him to burst into life.

Siam Hanghal vs Azrack Mahamat

Siam Hanghal has been one of the most promising youngsters of Hero ISL 2016. The 23-year-old has the pace and guile to beat opposing defenders with ease. He has a high pass completion rate and likes to keep the ball moving constantly. Having worked himself into the Marco Materazzi’s starting eleven on the back of a few strong displays, the best is yet to come from Hanghal.

Azrack Mahamat has been a workhorse for the Blasters midfield this season. Blessed with a great passing ability and capable of winning the ball back for his team, Mahamat has become a vital presence at the centre of the park for the men yellow. Not shy of getting stuck into crunching tackles either, the 28-year-old’s dominance in midfield will have a major say in the outcome of the game on Saturday.

Jeje Lalpekhlua vs Aaron Hughes

One of India’s best strikers at present, Jeje Lalpekhlua is a lethal presence in and around the box as he demonstrated with his first goal of the season in Chennai’s last match. His clinical finishing abilities are certain to account for more goals and assists as the season progresses. Crucial to Chennaiyin’s plans, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to many if Jeje proved to be the difference on Saturday.

Kerala’s marquee man, Aaron Hughes has put in plenty of strong and disciplined performances at the back for his side this year. His experience and footballing intelligence is pivotal to his team’s fortunes in the first southern derby of the season. The Northern Ireland international can expect a busy day against a potent Super Machans attack on Saturday.

Squads:

Chennaiyin FC: Karanjit Singh, Pawan Kumar, Duwayne Kerr, Bernard Mendy, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Eli Sabia, Eder Monterio, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Abhishek Das, John Arne Riise, Baljit Sahni, Hans Mulder, Manuele Blasi, Thoi Singh, Raphael Augusto, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Davide Succi, Maurizio Peluso, Bedashwor Singh, Uttam Rai, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Dhanachandra Singh, Zakeer Mundampara

Kerala Blasters FC: Graham Stack, Sandip Nandy, Kunal Sawant, Mohammad Ansari, Aaron Hughes, Cedric Hengbart, Sandesh Jhingan, Gurwinder Singh, Pratik Chaudhary, Elhadji Ndoye, Josu Currais, Didier Boris Kadio, Azrack Mahamat, Mehtab Hossain, Mohammed Rafique, Ishfaq Ahmed, Vinit Rai, Michael Chopra, Antonio German, Kervens Belfort, Duckens Nazon, Mohammed Rafi, Thongkhosiem Haokip, Farukh Chaudhary, Prasanth Karuthadathkuni