Archrivals Mohammedan Sporting Club and Abahani will meet for the second time this season when the two heavyweights lock horns in a Group B Federation Cup encounter in Cumilla today.

The match at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium is scheduled to kick off at 2:45 pm.

Although Mohammedan lead the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) table with six consecutive wins, they have been on the back foot in the Federation Cup, despite beating Chittagong Abahani 6-0 in their previous match, following a 1-0 drubbing at the hands of group leaders Rahmatganj MFS in their tournament opener.

Two teams will progress to the knockouts from the five-team group. "It is a do-or-die match for us because a defeat will throw us out of the competition," said Mohammedan coach Alfaz Ahmed, whose side have not lost to Abahani in the previous six meetings.

In their last meeting, Mohammedan edged past Abahani 1-0 in the Bangladesh Premier League, courtesy of a strike from their talisman Soleymane Diabate. The Malian forward will be central to Mohammedan's chances after missing their BPL fixture against Chittagong Abahani.

Meanwhile, Abahani, sans their foreign players, have also been in good form. The Sky Blues last beat Mohammedan in the 2022-23 BPL season.

"We are not thinking of the past… We also don't have an alternative but to win the match if we want to qualify for the second round," said Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu.