KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 — Two-time Super League champions, Selangor intend to finish their seven-year winless drought over Kedah in the competition in their first match this season at the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Star tomorrow night.

The last time the Red Giant team won was in the 2011 season, where Selangor won 2-0 in both actions before they were only able to record four draws in the next six clashes.

Selangor coach Muhammad Nazliazmi Mohamad Nasir was optimistic that his team, which was still fresh from the success of defeating Kuala Lumpur 3-0 in the FA Cup quarter-final first leg action last Saturday, was capable of at least bringing home one valuable point from tomorrow’s action.

"Our mission is to bring home points ... no matter whether three or even one, we want to be optimistic at tomorrow’s match. We respect Kedah as a great team despite some problems but I am confident it will not affect their preparation ahead of tomorrow’s action.

"The game will definitely be stiff but we are ready. All the preparations went smoothly, the players’ focus and mentality too are at a positive level and hope that all tactical plans can be interpreted well on the pitch,” he told Bernama today.

At the same time, Muhammad Nazliazmi could sigh with relief as midfielder Azamuddin Mohd Akil was expected to return to action after almost three months due to injury in the opening match against Kuala Lumpur in February.

However, he said up and coming young players, Muhammad Syahmi Safari and Joseph Kalang Tie had to be rested due to injuries while the service of import player Willian Pacheco was unavailable due to a match suspension.

"The return of Azamuddin in the team is good news for us all but I have to look at his performance and fitness level until tomorrow before deciding whether he will be fielded,” he added.

Meanwhile, he described the appointment of Mohd Nidzam Adzha Yusof as the new Kedah chief coach replacing Ramon Marcote as capable of solving the performance problem of the FA Cup 2017 champions.

"He (Mohd Nidzam) is an experienced coach in the Malaysian League and should be respected. Maybe we can see the impact at tomorrow’s match,” he said. — Bernama