Balestier Khalsa will not be taking anything for granted when they face Harimau Muda in the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League on Tuesday, despite the Malaysians' woeful form.
The visiting Young Tigers head to Toa Payoh Stadium with seven defeats and one draw in their last 10 league outings, leaving them languishing in seventh spot.
However, they nearly shocked Warriors FC on Saturday before throwing away a two-goal lead away to end up with a draw -- so Razip Ismail will expect his charges to trouble Balestier.
Winger Ignatius Ang believes the Malaysian outfit will be boosted by that result and urged his teammates to treat them with respect as they aim to snap a two-game winless run.
"We cannot be complacent even though they are not currently experiencing good form," he told ESPN FC. "After all, they are the best youth players in Malaysia, so they are definitely not an easy team to run over."
Tigers coach Marko Krajlevic will have to do without long-term injury victims Ahmad Syahir, Ho Wai Loon and Fadhil Noh, as well as the suspended pair of Yusiskandar Yusop and Poh Yi Feng.
However, Ang affirmed that preparations are going well and the team "just have to stick to the coach's game-plan" against a side whom they trumped 2-0 earlier in the season at the same venue.
Harimau Muda, who have the league's second worst defensive record, will also not relish facing the in-form Miroslav Kristic. The Croatian has scored four times in his last three matches and will fancy his chances of adding to his overall tally of 13 goals, as he chases top scorers Rafael Ramazotti and Fazrul Nawaz (both 14).
Ang has been impressed by his teammate's recent form after a slow start in his debut season in Singapore and hopes the 25-year-old can continue to fire on all cylinders.
"I believe he has settled down and is starting to show what he is capable of," he explained. "He is important to us in upfront; after all, he is holding up the play and putting in the goals for us."
Ang, himself, is Balestier's third-highest scorer in local competitions this season and the 22-year-old is relishing his first-team opportunities so far.
After barely making the bench for the LionsXII last year, 'Iggy' has featured in all but one of Balestier's 31 matches this season. That includes 18 starts, with four goals and five assists.
"Come to think of it, I can't recall when I have played so many matches consecutively and I'm enjoying myself," said Ang, who will make it 10 starts in a row if he is included in the lineup against Harimau Muda.
"Every match I play, I believe I improve bit by bit and I'm trying my best to be consistent. However, I need to work on my fitness so that I can operate up and down the flanks.
"As coach Marko has mentioned to me, a winger's job is hard work and nobody is going to do the work for me, which is advice that I have taken in my stride."
Balestier Khalsa Probable Lineup: Zaiful Nizam (C), Hanafi Salleh, Emir Lotinac, Igor Cerina, Nurullah Hussein, Zulkiffli Hassim, Ridwan Jamil, Jonathan Xu, Tarik Cmajcanin, Robert Pericic, Miroslav Kristic
Harimau Muda Probable Lineup: Farhan Abu Bakar, Azrul Nizam Muhammad, Syawal Nordin, Annas Rahmat, Nazirul Naim Hashim (C), Kenny Pallraj, Faris Shah Rosli, Adam Nor Azlin, Akhir Bahari, Ridzuan Abdunloh Pula, Syafwan Syahlan