HONG KONG will field three forwards in their Dynasty Cup encounter against China this afternoon at the new Yokohama International Stadium in Japan. World Cup finalists and arch-rivals Japan and South Korea play in the first match of the double-header at the 70,000-seat complex and all tickets have been sold out. The SAR are rated underdogs in the four-nation, round-robin tournament. But Hong Kong coach Sebastiao Araujo is to field an aggressive 5-2-3 format with Instant-Dict's Tim Bredbury, South China's Dale Tempest and Wai Kwan-lung of Sing Tao playing up front. Sing Tao winger Lo Kai-wah and Yee Hope's Englishman Gary McKeown will play in midfield. South China goalkeeper Kevin Lok Kar-win will have an Instant-Dict defence comprising Bulgarian Dimitre Kalkanov, former Irish Under-21 international Tim O'Shea, Wong Wai-tak and left-back Chan Hon-fai, plus Golden right-back Mark Grainger. 'Today, victory is important to us,' said Araujo. 'It is our first game. If we win, we will be one big step closer to lifting the title. We always play to win, at least we should try to. That's why I play three forwards. 'China have always been playing the same style - with good physical strength and speed. 'So we have to be careful as their players will play extremely hard to impress the new coach. 'It is also a good opportunity for them to compensate a little for their failure in qualifying for the World Cup.' Veteran forward Bredbury said the younger Hong Kong players needed to show their best in the tournament. 'The players have to be more ambitious. They should take this opportunity to impress clubs outside Hong Kong. 'Look at the bigger picture, rather than aiming to be a big fish in Hong Kong. Hong Kong soccer is getting too easy, that's why the standard is dropping. The money is not in Hong Kong but the easy life is. 'Think about playing outside Hong Kong. Try to be the top scorer in this tournament. Ambition is missing in the team.' Meanwhile, Chinese Professional League top scorer Hao Haidong is likely to miss today's game. The Chinese Footballer of the Year has been struggling with minor injuries after a long, wearying season with league champions Dalian Wanda. China's new manager Bob Houghton may field towering forwards Su Maozhen, who has had short spells with Manchester United's reserve team, and Cai Cheng from Hubei. Utility player Fan Zhiyi and Dalian defender Zhang Enhua, who recently had a one-week trial with English Premier League side Southampton, are expected to play in the defence. PROBABLE LINEUPS Hong Kong: 17-Kevin Lok Kar-win; 8-Mark Grainger, 4-Tim O'Shea, 5-Dimitre Kalkanov, 14-Wong Wai-tak, 3-Chan Hon-fai; 15-Lo Kai-wah, 19-Gary McKeown; 9-Dale Tempest, 12-Tim Bredbury, 18-Wai Kwan-lung. China: Ou Chuliang; Wei Qun, Zhang Enhua, Fan Zhiyi, Sun Jihai; Li Ming, Liu Jun, Ma Mingyu, Shen Si; Su Maozhen, Cai Cheng.
