Chandigarh: The sight of the Indian team during a gym session on the eve of the Punjab Gold Cup final was quite merry. With their main target of reaching the final now realised, the team looks quite relaxed and confident as they take on the mighty Dutch at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here on Monday.

But the task of this brave Indian side won't be made easy when the two best sides of the tournament take on each other. The Oranje have sounded a warning to the hosts after demolishing world champions Germany 7-1 on Saturday.

Coach-in-charge Harendra Singh believes his side has got what it takes to beat the former Olympic gold medallists. "It will be an open, attacking match and the boys are ready to face them. Not many expected us to reach the final before the tournament and now that we have reached one target, the other doesn't look far away," Harendra said.

Defence continues to be a worry for India, with the only saving grace at the back being the goalkeeper Baljeet Singh. India have conceded as many as 28 penalty corners in six matches and how they tackle this problem will perhaps be most important point in them winning or losing the match. "Thankfully till now we haven't had some quality drag-flickers. That area remains a worry. We need to sort it out," said Harendra.
Up front, home team has surprised most opponents with their counter attacks with sheer pace catching the defences unaware.

Holland, meanwhile, have shown why they are regarded the best in the business. The team not only coped with the setback of losing two of their star players, Teun de Noojeir and Taeke Taekema, early on but has by far been the best side in the tournament. Still unbeaten in the four-nation cup, it won't be unfair to say that Holland deserve to win the Cup.

The danger man as far as India are concerned would be the tournament's top scorer Jeroen Hertzberger but Harendra said it would be suicidal if they single him out as the threat. "They have some really good players in Lucas Judge and Timme Hyong. But we will be up to the task," he said. Holland will look to continue their dominance over India, a team against whom they haven't lost for more than a decade. "It will be great to play against a packed stadium. The boys will have a great experience playing in such atmosphere," Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel said.

The stage is set for both teams to compete for the coveted trophy and entertain the 15,000-plus crowd expected to turn out.

May the best team win!