Margao, Oct 11: Defending champions Dempo will take on Sporting Clube de Goa in the second round of the 6th edition of I-League to be played at Nehru Stadium at Fatorda here tomorrow.

Dempo, who scraped past Churchill Brothers through a Ryuji Sueoka double strike, face a spirited side who played their hearts out to hold Federation Cup Champions East Bengal to a goal-less draw without their two foreigners in their opening encounter.

"We need to be on guard and relax ourselves," said coach Armando Colaco. They have experienced players like Mahesh Gawli in the defence, Climax Lawrence, Clifford Miranda, Anthony Pereira in the midfield and in-form Ryuji Sueoka upfront and are looking for another win tomorrow in the Goan derby. Kalu Ogba and Keita Boubacar are back in the side after missing out the last match due to illness.

"We know its going to be a tough match but my boys are prepared to live up to the challenge and continue with the form of the last match," coach Ekendra Singh said.

PTI