PUNE: Churchill Brothers midfielder Ogba Kalu Nnanna like many other players are already thinking of returning home in Nigeria after finishing the 10-month long season. Only two weeks remain for the end of the season and prospects of eating home food is what they are waiting for.

But for now, Kalu and his Nigerian teammate Felix Chimaokwu have to step forward in absence of prolific striker Odafe Onyeka Okolie to help their side finish on a high.

Both Kalu and Felix have scored well for Churchill after Odafe and they need to be at their best on Thursday against an in-form Pune FC at Balewadi Sports Complex to score goals and register a win in order to guarantee their side a second place finish behind Dempo SC, who have already sealed the title.

Fourth-placed, Pune FC, who are one point behind Churchill on 38 points can go second with a win in their penultimate game. Both the teams have a chance to finish runners-up but Churchill have a game in hand.

Odafe is facing suspension after he picked a second yellow in injury time against Mumbai FC on Monday. The Nigerian striker’s absence could be a key factor in Thursday's game but Churchill coach showed enough faith in his team to seal second place.

“Odafe's suspension was unfortunate, it could have been avoided. We will surely miss him as he leads the side by example. But he is not here so we have to look beyond him. We have played a few games without him and done well,” said Churchill Brothers Brazilian coach Carlos Pereira.

“We have Felix and Kalu upfront and Odafe’s replacement Durga Boro also can be handy. We don’t want leave it for the remaining two games to finish second,” the Brazilian added.

But Odafe’s absence might hurt the last year champions big time as Pune FC coach Derrick Pereira no longer needs to spend time planning, how to check the talismanic Nigerian and cover him with key defenders Chika Wali and Selwyn Fernandes.

Chika had smartly checked Odafe in their first leg game in Goa but Odafe still managed to score from spot kick and inflict injury on Chika to rule him out for about two months. Goalkeeper Subrata Paul has hardly given away anything and has shown much more intensity ever since he has been leading the side. He also will be keen to perform big time to show his counterpart Arindam Bhattacharya who is the best in India.

Carlos Pereira is wary of fellow Brazilian striker Edmar Figueria who scored the equaliser against Churchill in Goa to open his account in I-League. Figueira has scored five goals in last three home games against Viva Kerala, JCT Mills and Sporting Clube de Goa, all resulting in big wins. He will be keen to finish the last home game of the season on a high. Izumi Arata, Dohou Sey Pierre and Sergey Tokov are the other names that will keep the Churchill defence consisting of Gouramangi Moirangthem, Warun Deep, Rowilson Rodrigues and Noaba Singh occupied.

“Churchill with or without Odafe is still a dangerous side and we will not let our guard tomorrow. Our aim will be to be aggressive and get full points to go second on the table,” said Pereira. Pune FC will be without Sampath Kuttimani who is facing suspension due to double bookings.

Squads: Pune FC: Subrata Paul (GK), Chika Wali, Selwyn Fernandes, Sunil Kumar, Sergey Tokov, Shanmugham Venkatesh, Arata Izumi, Godwin Franco, Dohou Sey Pierre, Anees Koraliyadan, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Edmar Figueira, Rahul K, J Prasad, Balaji Narsimhan (GK), Asim Hassan, Sampath Kuttimani, Othallo Tabia, Caitano Costa; Coach Derrick Pereira

Churchill Brothers: Arindam Bhattacharya (GK), Gouramangi Moirangthem, Jaison Vales, L Lalrinfela, Raju Yumnam, Charan Rai, Warun Deep, Rowilson Rodrigues, Naoba Singh, Ogba Kalu, Felix Chimaokwu, Durga Boro, S Naveen Kumar, Reisangmi Vashum, Nascimento Silveira, Lalit Thapa (GK)