Entering its seventh day in the 131st Indian Oil Durand Cup will see the first appearance of Indian Super League Champion Hyderabad FC in the tournament, who will clash in a Group C game with local favourites Tiddim Road Athletic Union FC at the Main Stadium Khuman Lampak at 3 pm on Monday.

That will be followed in the evening by yet another first appearance, this time that of the local favourite Emami East Bengal, who came up against the Indian Navy Football Team in a Group B encounter at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

The ISL champions are at full strength with their full quota of six foreigners including Brazilian Joao Victor, Australian Joel Chianese and the redoubtable Nigerian Bart Ogbeche, driving forces behind their epoch ISL triumph last season.

Spanish coach Manolo Marquez, chief architect of the triumph, has also organised a stout defence with India regulars like Sana Singh and Akash Mishra providing great attacking options on the overlap. Kattimani under the Hyderabad bar brought off the most number of saves among keepers last season.

Hyderabad as a result, not only scored the most number of goals last season but was also second on the least conceded list behind Jamshedpur.

The second game pits local favourites Emami East Bengal against Indian Navy Football Team, who play their second Group B game after having lost the first 1-4 to Mumbai City FC, despite scoring first in the game.