High-flying Kitchee are looking to make it two wins out of two in the AFC Cup when they take on visitors Pune of India at Mong Kok Stadium on Wednesday.
Kitchee kicked off the regional cup campaign with a bang when they thrashed Tampines Rovers 5-0 in Singapore two weeks ago and now have two home games in a row.
"If we win [both], we'll be in the driver's seat with nine points," said head coach Chu Chi-kwong. "But we are also concerned the players are getting a little bit tired, both mentally and physically, after going through two-thirds of the season. We hope they can hang in there and get through this tough period."
Kitchee need to tackle three tough games in eight days, the two AFC Cup group H ties sandwiching a league game against Citizen.
There was good news for Kitchee as Spanish striker Juan Belencoso, who has picked up 11 goals so far this season, was passed fit after straining his back in the weekend's win over BC Rangers.
Pune were held by Nay Pyi Taw of Myanmar to a 2-2 draw at home in their opening game and expect a tough contest at Mong Kok Stadium.