Coach Manoranjan Bhattacharjee was guarded in his comments. ``Beating Dalian by a seven-goal margin is extremely difficult,'' he said. The Calcutta side, however, has to do exactly that to qualify for the next stage of the championship.

Bhattacharjee said beating the Chinese team, even by a solitary goal, would restore the damage done in the away-match in China on September 19. The loss in the first-leg was due to repeated defence lapses as his boys went for the off-side trap, he said.

East Bengal would have to make special vigilance arrangements for Wang Tao, Bacian Nemefecek andEkilund, all of whom can spell doom for the home team.As usual, the hosts would depend heavily on striker Baichung Bhutia, who can combine with Raman Vijayan to deliver for his team.

The key to the match lies in the defence that Bhattacharjee will put up. Much will depend on Franky Barreto, Falguni Dutt, Carlton Chapman and Basudeb Mondal, all of whom are seasoned campaigners, besides, the three Ghanians .

On the weather front, rain has been forecast. This could go to the advantage of the home club which has experience of the soft soil of the Kanchenjunga Stadium here.