Sher-e-Jalandhar kept themselves on course for the title with a 2-1 victory over lowly Chennai Veerans in the Premier Hockey League in Hyderabad on Friday.
The victory took Sher-e-Jalandar's points tally to 14 from seven matches, two less than table leaders Hyderabad Sultans, who are on 16 points from the same number of matches.
Jalandhar now must earn full three points from their last match against Sultans on Sunday to emerge champions in the inaugural edition of the league.
Hyderabad Sultans need only to take the crucial match to the extra-time, in which case they will get a point and clinch the title.
Deepak Thakur put Jalandhar into lead in the ninth minute and the men from north took total control of the game after Didar Singh increased the margin in the 42nd minute.
Though Veerans bounced back when Sandeep Singh scored off a penalty-corner in the 49th minute to reduce the margin, there was hardly anything noteworthy they could do to take the match to extra-time.