Apex coach confident of securing play-off berth
Apex coach Musceo Hunt is cautiously optimistic his side can shake off last year's disappointment of missing out on the ISL play-offs at the expense of tonight's opponents Titans.
Currently third in the Red Division on three points and three points ahead of winless Titans, Apex need a win to guarantee their place in the quarter-finals.
While a win would see Apex through, a victory for Titans would shake things up going into the final day of games with both sides level on points.
Having beaten Titans already this year, a 5-4 win in their second game of the season, Hunt believes his side can get the job done.
"Our destiny is in the hands of the players, all we can do is inspire them to recognise their true potential and hopefully they work hard for one another," said Hunt.
"I think we have the potential to beat everybody but it's up to the players who must recognise that they can and play hard for 60 minutes.
"The advantage we have is that the Titans haven't won a game so from that perspective we have the upper hand but we also can't get too complacent just because we have beaten them already."
Last year it was Titans who came out on top in a crucial game between the two teams, putting themselves in pole position to take the final play-off spot and winning their final game of the regular season, dooming Apex to watch from the stands.
Yet this year it can be very different reckons Hunt with many of last year's team moving on and this term's squad new to the club.
"Last year they beat us to get the upper hand and then won their last match to get into the play-offs and we didn't, so it's crucial but we have everything in our hands.
"We have a lot of players this year that haven't really played this format.
"We have a whole new team due to injury and other things that caused us to change the whole dynamics of the squad.
"Between this year and last year we have been looking for new players opposed to other teams who have players that have played in every season since the start of the league.
"Balance wise, we are just trying to get them to play together for 60 minutes and that is our hardest problem."
Titans and Apex kick off the double-header at the National Sports Centre (NSC), which will also see leaders Knights put their 100 percent record up against heated rivals Storm in the second edition of the 'Super Clasico'.
Knights won the first game 7-5.
Tonight's games
Titans v Apex , 7.30 p.m
Storm v Knights, 8.45 p.m.