Petaling Jaya City will go into Kelantan's fortress at the Sultan Muhd IV Stadium knowing it will be a scene of hostile red, but that won't them from their three-point mission.
PJ City goalkeeper Kalamullah Al-Hafiz Mat Rowi said even if the stadium is packed with fans of the Red Warriors in the Group D return leg, it will make him even more determined to play better.
"If the fans are back, then the players will get more worked up and spirited.
"We want to play in front of fans, especially in Kota Baru where the fans is a lot more," said Kalamullah.
"I won't be scared, maybe a tad nervous because Kelantan fans are a lot.
"It will be tough and things will be tense. But I am mentally psyched up to play.
"It is reverse psychology... the more fans, the more determined I am,
it," quipped 26-year-old Kalamullah.
Last Friday, though PJ City defeated Kelantan 3-1 at the MBPJ Stadium, Kalamullah said the Phoenix are not in a comfortable spot yet in Group D.
He hopes to get three more points from Kelantan to improve PJ City's chances of reaching the quarter-finals.
"We're not comfortable yet (to have enough points) to say we're through to the quarter-finals.
"We still have Kelantan, Sabah and Johor Darul Ta'zim to deal with."
Meanwhile Sabah striker N. Thanabalan said it is a dream come true to be playing against under former national under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee and partnering his idol, Amri Yahyah upfront.
As JDT host Sabah in Group D at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, the Rhinos are looking to overturn their 2-0 first round deficit suffered at Likas Stadium, last Friday.
Thanabalan remains optimistic that Sabah can progress to the knockout stage.
"He (Kim Swee) puts a lot of trust in me, so that is why every game I give my best.
"I never thought hat I would get to play under him again," said Thanabalan who used to be a regular on Kim Swee's national youth side between 2013 and 2018.
"With Amri, I just follow what he says because he's my senior and my idol.
There is chemistry between us when we play.
"We expect a good result (against JDT today), not to make mistakes like what we did last Friday.
"Just focus on the game and we still have a chance to progress to the next round."
Thanabalan said he will not be fazed by JDT's imposing home crowd.
"The crowd is not an issue, and I don't get nervous when they are around me.
"I actually like it when any stadiums are filled with fans. We are used to it," said Thanabalan.
