HIL: Punjab Warriors out to end Ranchi Rhinos' title defence in semis

Ranchi: Bolstered by a strong showing in the league stages, table-toppers Punjab Warriors would look to continue their winning streak against defending champions Ranchi Rhinos when the two sides meet in the second semi-final of the Hockey India League (HIL) on Saturday.

Punjab Warriors had a dream campaign in the HIL this year, having lost just one match so far, that too against Delhi Waveriders in the tournament-opener on January 25.

After the initial hiccup, Punjab won seven games while two ended in no result to draw curtains to their league engagements on top with 40 points from 10 games.

To add to it, Punjab boast of a 100 per cent record against Ranchi this year, having beaten the defending champions 4-2 and 3-2 in their two meetings.

So understandably, Punjab would approach Saturday's crucial match high on confidence against a side that has looked a pale shadow of itself this year.

The Punjab forwardline will be led by the inspirational Jamie Dwyer of Australia. Apart from Dwyer, the Ranchi striking force includes a mixed bag of youth and experience like Affan Yousuf, Gurmail Singh, Malak Singh, Dharamvir Singh, SV Sunil, Shivendra Singh and Australian Kieran Govers among others.

Punjab also have a dangerous penalty corner specialist in Sandeep Singh, while the goal will be manned by none other than world's best goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann of Netherlands.

On the other hand, Ranchi's campaign in the tournament has been far from impressive this year. The title-holders won just four and lost five matches while one ended in a draw to finish the league stages at the fourth position with just 26 points.

But Ranchi know it very well that it will be a completely new game on Saturday, and if they can post a win against Punjab, the results of the league stages will be a thing of the past.

Ranchi can also take heart from the fact that the entire stadium will be rooting their every move on Sunday.

But to upset Punjab, Ranchi star players in captain Moritz Fuerste, Justin Reid-Ross, Floris Evers, Ashley Jackson, Barry Middleton, Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh will have to rise to the occasion.