Testing times for old foes

8220;Rebuilding8221;, then, is the common campaign theme of both the teams in the nine-match, double-leg series, which will see several new faces struggling to find their feet in the cauldron of pressure.

However, what8217;s striking is the fact that Pakistan have gone for a revamp after the Asian Games debacle, while India are looking to build a crack side for 2000 Sydney Olympics after the Bangkok triumph.

That Pakistan have been forced to qualify forthe Olympics must surely have played on the minds of selectors, but injuries to key players Mohammed Usman, Kamran Ashraf, Tariq Imran and Mohammed Shahbaz Junior did not leave them with too many options. They have dropped out-of-form Babar Abdullah, Imran Yousuf, Naveed Iqbal and Haider Hussain.

India8217;s strength lies in the mid-field. In Baljit Singh Saini, Ramandeep Singh, Mohammed Riaz and Thirumalvalan, the hosts have an assured bunch of mid-fielders. While right half Saini and left half Ramandeep have shown tremendous interception skills, Riaz who played as a withdrawn forward in Bangkok has the capability to keep the attack going.

Defence is another area where coach V Baskaran would have few worries. Captain Anil Aldrin and Dilip Tirkey are seasoned campaigners and youngster Lazarus Barla has also shaped up well.

Goalkeeper Jagdish Ponappa also has enough international experience. It is just that he needs to find the right level of consistency needed in such needle clashes.

The biggestchallenge for Baskaran would be to get the best out of a young forward-line. In the absence of Pillay, Mukesh and Sabu Varkey the onus will be on centre forward Gagan Ajit Singh, inside-right Sameer Dad and outside-right Prabhakaran to get the attack going. Even Rajesh Chauhan has a fair bit of experience. But Baljit Singh Dhillon8217;s absence on the left flank will certainly hamper Indian attack. Dhillon who got married recently excelled as outside-left in Bangkok, and is expected to join the team in Hyderabad for the third Test.

As for Pakistan, it is the midfield which wears a new look. Irfan Yousuf has been around for some time, but Mohammed Saqlain and Mubashir Mukhtar will be making their debut. Also getting a first look is talented centre-forward Ijaz Rasool, though emulating Kamran Ashraf might prove to be a tall order for this promising striker.

Pakistan have seasoned goal-keepers 8212; Mohammed Qasim and Ahmed Alam have proved their mettle in the internatinal arena. The recall of Danish Kalim willadd to strength in defence. Besides, it will also give Paksitan more options in penalty corner set-pieces. Both, Kalim and Sohail Abbas, the drag flicker, have a good striking rate. The only flicker in Indian side, Baljit Dhillon, is out.

With several youngsters in both sides, and teams playing the same system 5-3-2-1, tomorrow8217;s clash could be more a battle of minds than tactics.The match would be telecast LIVE on Doordarshan-I from 2.35 p.m.