BHUBANESWAR: A cracker of a contest is on the cards when a confident India takes on a resurgent Pakistan in what promises to be a battle of attrition between the two traditional rivals at the Hero Champions Trophy hockey tournament, in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Having peaked when it mattered most, both the sides will be desperate to upstage each other on Saturday to assert their supremacy over each other.
The match also provides India an opportunity to avenge their defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the bronze medal match in the last edition of the elite eight-nation tournament held at Melbourne in 2012.
But going by present form and record, India definitely will enjoy an upper-hand over their neighbours.
India had been in great form and would definitely take heart from their win over Pakistan in the summit clash of the Incheon Asian Games, which also gave Sardar Singh and Co a direct entry to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Meanwhile in the other semifinal of the day, world champions and title holders Australia will take on Olympic champions Germany on Saturday.