Greensharks captain Victor Osiche believes their Kenya Hockey Union Premier League match against Butali Warriors on Saturday, will be won in midfield.
Greensharks will square it out with the defending champions, who will be playing in their first match of the season.
Sharks, under the guidance of coach Nixon Nyaganga, beat newbies Parkroad Badgers 3-1 but face a stern test against a fearsome Butali attack.
"Of course beating Parkroad gives us an edge because we have seen the intensity of the league but it will count for nothing on Saturday," Osiche said.
"It will come down to control of the midfield. We know they are very good in attack, they have ball carriers, and neutralising their dominance in midfield will isolate their attackers."
He continued: "We have to swing passes, keep the ball and be strategic in attack. Also, experience, intensity and composure will count but all in all 60 minutes will be the determinant."
Osiche acknowledges the tough task awaiting Sharks but says anything is possible.
Greensharks lost 2-1 and 4-2 against Butali in the 2019 season but Osiche is adamant Butali will face a completely different outfit that is hungry and fired up to shake off the mid-table team tag.
"They (Butali) know anything can happen. We beat them 3-1 before so nothing is impossible. We have not signed any players apart from the ones we had before the season was halted in 2020. They are also in a similar situation."
"We will leave our hearts on the pitch. We want to send a statement to the rest of the teams by beating Butali."
