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High-flying Caroliners hope Jancula can finish off Japanese

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South China face an acid test as they look to complete a famous Asian Cup-Winners' Cup victory over Japanese outfit Shimizu S-Pulse in their second-leg encounter in Shizuoka tonight. The Caroliners, who shocked the J.League side 3-2 more than a fortnight ago at Hong Kong Stadium, are confident of showcasing their skills and gaining 'a result' at the Nihondaira Stadium.

The odds will be stacked heavily against South China as S-Pulse only need a 1-0 victory at home to send the Hong Kong giants packing.

But the Caroliners were still confident of an aggregate victory and they will again be looking to in-form striker Martin Jancula for goals with team director Peter Leung Shou-chi oozing confidence that the big 28-year-old Slovakian would be in inspirational form yet again.

Jancula blasted a hat-trick against Shimizu, the 1999 Asian Cup-Winners' Cup champions, in the first leg of the second-round encounter and Leung said he was ready to shine again.

'He has been in sensational form and it's nice to know that we will be playing with a full team with not a single injury. Everybody will play and that makes our options a little better,' said Leung. 'Martin knows he has a big task in front of him, but if he plays to the sort of level he played at at the Hong Kong Stadium recently, then I am sure Shimizu will be in for another big surprise.'

Jancula's hat-trick also played a huge part in the Caroliners being named as the Asian Football Confederation Team of the Month for November.

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