A confident India, with two back-to-back titles under the belt, begin their campaign in the 25th Champions Trophy hockey tournament with a tough opening match against defending and Olympic Champions Holland at the Wagner stadium in Amstelveen on Saturday.
Training just after Pakistan -- who take on Australia in the inaugural match -- finished a grinding session at the venue, the Indians limbered under the watchful eyes of coach Rajinder Singh. The former India player struck a cautious note, saying: "Taking the Dutch lightly in front of their home fans would be like suicide."
He added: "I am confident that my boys will play well. We are also aware of the Dutch team's abilities, but I also have a couple of moves that could give us the edge in the opening match."
Meanwhile, Dutch coach Jose Bellart was his usual confident-arrogant self. His bravado though is sometimes mistaken for arrogance. But he does pump up his boys by asking them never to relax in a game. And that is what will be crucial for India.
The Dutch, as a team, are brilliant off-the-ball runners. If there is one forward running with the ball, then at least three upfront keep running through the circle, cutting the defence to unsettle it. And that is what coach Rajinder will have to be careful about.
"I know they will be cutting through and the defence also knows the way the Dutch play, but I am confident that the boys will be able to handle it," explained Rajinder.
But what could work both ways and also be a negative factor is that both teams have not played each other for almost a year.
Consequently, they have not seen much of each other, except for the fact that the Dutch coach has seen video recordings of India's matches in the four-nation tournament in Hamburg.
Bellart, however, did not want to comment much, but said he knows the Indians are on a high following recent performances.
"They have the skills to change a match within minutes," he said.
India captain Dhanraj Pillay sounded confident, saying the training sessions were "done very well" and the temperatures in Amsterdam, at around 24 degrees Centrigade would help the team.
"We are playing against them after a long time and I really hope we settle into the match early. The team has to score the early goals to have the advantage," the mercurial striker said.
Without any injury worries, the Indians are now looking forward to improve on their Champions Trophy record, one important tournament they have never won.
India has competed in nine of the 25 Champions Trophy tournaments and their highest placing was third, in the fourth edition, in June 1982, at the Wagner stadium.
Rajinder had a hugely memorable match against Pakistan in that tournament, when the arch-rivals were ahead 3-1. He scored a hat-trick as India went on to win the match 5-4 and finish third.
Another man who wants to put in everything to improve India's record is experienced full-back and former skipper Dilip Tirkey.
"The 25th Champions Trophy is the most important tournament for us, not just for me but the entire team and the future of Indian hockey.
"Everything depends on team performance. If we lift the Champions Trophy or finish among the medals then hockey gets a lot of support back home. This is the best opportunity for us to win the Champions Trophy and we think, with a little bit of luck, we should be able to do it," he said.