It is a case of a gladiator versus a lion when Thailand square off against defending champions Singapore in the Asean Football Championship second-leg match today, a game that has high potential to be an explosive one.

Bangkok will come to a standstill this evening. All the roads lead to the Supachalasai Stadium, temporarily turned into a coliseum, where three-time champions Thailand attempt to kill off the Lions' hopes of retaining the title.

Everything is set up for the game to have more importance than just a decider match after a heated contest in the first leg ended dramatically on Wednesday. Thailand definitely have a score to settle with the Singaporeans after Chanwit Pholchivin's side went down 2-1 to Singapore from a hotly-debated penalty with only eight minutes remaining that saw the Thai team hold a protest by walking off the pitch for about 15 minutes before order was restored.

The controversial penalty came amid growing bad blood between the two countries following a diplomatic spat over the recent visit of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra to the city-state. Inevitably, the bitter taste of a loss only served to stir up emotion in the Kingdom.

Thailand's chances of overturning the deficit, however, have been dampened as injuries and suspensions struck the home side, who hope to regain the title they last won in 2002. This leaves Chanwit, the national team's head coach, with limited options as he selects his side for the crucial match.

First-choice left back Natthaporn Phanlit is struggling with a rib injury while defensive midfielder Nirut Surasiang serves a suspension in today's game. However, Chanwit could draw some encouragement after veteran Kiartisak "Zico" Senamuang, who missed the first leg, jogged with team-mates in training on Friday, increasing the possibility that he might play some part today.

Chanwit dropped a hint that he might change his tactic from a usual 4-4-2 to an adventurous 4-3-3 formation should Natthaporn fail to recover in time.

 "We will give Natthaporn until the last minute to prove his fitness but I think he may not play tomorrow. If that is the case, we would change to 4-3-3, with Pipat [Thonkanya], Sutee [Suksomkit] and Suchao [Nutnum] forming a three-pronged attack," said Chanwit, who recently found himself under an unwanted spotlight following a leaked report revealing that he might take a managerial position at Vietnam's V-League outfit Dong Thap.

The experienced coach believes that concentration will be the key to success in the game, which is expected to be played under as tense an atmosphere as at the first leg.

"We must not let them easily have an opportunity to cross the ball either from set-piece or both flanks. Apart from that, we have nothing to be concerned.

"I told the players not to pay attention to the refereeing decision and keep focussing on the play. I think if we can maintain our concentration throughout the game, we will eventually win the tie and seal the title," said Chanwit.

Tawatchai Sajakul, the team manager, appealed to fans for restraint ahead of the match and urged them to concentrate hard because what they do might tarnish the country's image.

"I hope to see a hospitable crowd in the stadium for our visitors," said Tawatchai.

Officials said that 300 police, both uniformed and in plainclothes, will be deployed at the stadium to ensure safety amid fears that there might be ugly scenes in the match, to which current diplomatic problems have added more tension.

Bottled drinks will be barred from the venue while metal detectors and explosives scanners will also be installed in an attempt to keep the situation around the stadium in order.

The prospect of a tense atmosphere erupting in the second-leg final became evident after local fans raucously protested over a shortage of tickets after queuing up for hours.

The tickets were sold out barely two hours after going on sale yesterday morning. A large group of supporters held a protest in front of the office of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), calling for the head of FAT president Vijit Getkaew after reports that the tickets were sold in bulk instead of in limited numbers for each fan.

The match will be shown live on Star Sports and Channel 7 from 7pm.

Kitinan Sanguansak

The Nation