Under their new Brazilian coach Marcos Falopa, East Bengal will face their first real test when they take on a spirited Semen Padang of Indonesia in the first leg of the AFC Cup quarter-finals here on Tuesday.
In his first big match after taking over the reins from a hugely successful Trevor Morgan, the East Bengal head coach would be under pressure as the Brazilian would look to prove a point by warding off the Indonesian outfit.
They may be debutants in this top-tier competition, but Padang, leaders in the ongoing Indonesian Premier League with 41 points from 16 matches, have plenty to offer against a team who are short on match practice.
Having just started the season with two local league matches, East Bengal would look to find the rhythm with a new combination under Falopa, a factor that may go against the red-and-gold brigade.
On the other hand, Padang players are fresh from their campaign in the Indonesian league as all eyes would be on their Liberian forward Edwar Junior Wilson.
He is their leading scorer in the AFC Cup with nine goals, while the Liberian tops the Indonesian Premier League with a tally of 18.
Falopa is likely to field a 4-3-1-2 formation with a new forward line in Edeh Chidi and James Moga who switched over from Pune FC, while former Dempo medio Joaquim Abranches may be seen as a withdrawal striker.