Table-toppers Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming believes his team's final league match against bottom placed Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League in Mohali, on Saturday as a 'dangerous game'.
CSK are presently leading the eight-team points table with 16 points from eight wins out of 13 games, and a victory in Mohali would guarantee their place in the top two.
"It will be a hard game for us because they (Kings XI Punjab) have no fear attitude and some of their players dangerous at the best of times. But we will just go about our work the same way and hopefully, we can get the result in favour which will be a big advantage going into the finals," Fleming said on Friday.
"We are delighted to have qualified, that is your first goal when you start the season. So we are delighted with that," he said.
Asked to comment about the tournament being still wide open among the top six teams for a spot in the play-offs, Fleming replied: "I think it has happened before a few years but last couple of years were bit different, the fact that six teams are still in the running is a good sign.
"This year has been very even, the fact that we were beaten by Delhi in the last game, who were perceived to be the weakest team just shows that there is a fine line between each of the teams and its down to individual form," said Fleming.
"Having key players in form at the right time and winning key moments. We have seen games all the way through that are won or lost on one shot or one bye or one bad play, so its very tight. I think the fans have to be enjoying the fact that so many teams are in contention."
The Kiwi termed the match against Punjab as 'dangerous, very dangerous,' as he believes the hosts, who are already out of the running for a place in the play-offs, have nothing to lose in their final league game.
"I guess we have got nothing to lose because we are through, so we can adopt that (no fear) attitude, but we do want to qualify and finish the round robin well. We were poor in the last game and Delhi played well, we weren't as good as we could be, so we have got some questions to answer before we head for the finals."
Fleming said opener Brendon McCullum will be playing his final game of the tournament on Saturday before he heads for England to join the New Zealand team for international duty.
Image: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming (right) with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Photograph: BCCI
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