Chennaiyin coach Marco Materazzi might be greeted by a sea of Zinedine Zidane masks in this season’s second South Indian derby in Kochi in one of the most bizarre events in ISL history.

Materazzi responded in kind. He told, “Did they spend lots of money for it? I would use that money for food instead.”

For Kerala, the returns of CK Vineeth and Rino Anto couldn’t have come at a better time. While CK Vineeth scored the winner against Goa last time around, the dependable Rino Anto lends better balance to the team and will slot in at right-back.

In a tight league, Kerala are inching towards fourth and a win will take them to third or higher. Having started slowly, their defensive resilience has seen them survive a tough opening period and the two Bengaluru FC men will be the only changes for Steve Coppell’s side.

Chennaiyin were thrashed 4-1 by Delhi Dynamos and Materazzi will not be happy with his side’s twin displays against the table toppers, conceding seven goals against Gianluca Zambrotta’s team in two games this season.

The good news for Chennaiyin is that they have been in this position before, having been dead last at a similar point in the league last season before bouncing back to make the semis and eventually going on to win the tournament.

“Last season we were last [around this stage of the league] and this season we are second to last [so there is still plenty of hope],” Materazzi alluded to their successful run in ISL 2015.

Jeje Lalpekhlua and John Arne Riise are expected to come in to the line-up as Materazzi will be hoping that his side can start their revival against their southern rivals.

Match Facts

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi

Capacity: 60,000

Time: 7 pm IST.

Last meeting: Chennaiyin FC 0 - 0 Kerala Blasters FC, 29th October, 2016, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai

Head-to-head: Matches played: 7, Kerala wins: 1, Chennaiyin wins: 4, Draws: 2

Key Battles

CK Vineeth vs Bernard Mendy: The 29-year old frontman from Kerala is having a dream season and will look to add to his goal in his first appearance of the season.

Coming off a wonderful cup run in the AFC Cup, he will lead the Blasters attacking line. Mendy scored a wonderful consolation goal but the defensive part of his game was suspect and he will have to be careful against the tireless Vineeth.

Sandesh Jhingan vs Jeje Lalpekhlua: An interesting battle is on the cards between Indian football’s two most promising youngsters. Jhingan, after having won the Emerging Player of the League award in his first season, has steadily improved and has been one of Kerala’s best performers in a stop-start season for the franchise.

Lalpekhlua has been used sparingly by his manager but has two goals and two assists to his name in this season’s competition. The 25-year old has the pace to trouble Jhingan and will be key to Chennaiyin’s hopes going forward.

Expected line-ups

Kerala Blasters FC: Graham Stack; Cedric Hengbart, Sandesh Jhingan, Rino Anto, Josu Currais; Azrack Mahamat, Mehtab Hossain, Mohammed Rafique, Michael Chopra, Kervens Belfort; CK Vineeth

Chennaiyin FC: Karanjit Singh; Bernard Mendy, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, John Arne Riise, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Hans Mulder, Manuele Blasi, Siam Hanghal; Davide Succi, Maurizio Peluso, Jeje Lalpekhlua