In what is the biggest match of the round-robin league, Pakistan just need a draw against the Indians to reach the final as they are currently placed at the top of the table with nine points from four outings.

A draw can also allow India – placed at the second spot with eight points – to advance to the title match but that will depend on the outcome of the other two games to be played on Friday.

Japan will face Malaysia while Korea will take on hosts China in the other two matches. Both Japan (7 points) and Korea (6 points) are still harboring title hopes while Malaysia and China are already out of contention.

Pakistan, who won the Asian Games crown in China last December, are well aware that a draw will be enough for them but the Greenshirts stressed on Thursday that they will be looking for an all out win to avoid any unpleasant ending to their title campaign.

“We will be playing for an outright win tomorrow,” Khawaja Junaid, Pakistan’s manager, told Arab News from Ordos. “It’s a big match for us and we would want to go into the final with a victory in it,” added the former Olympian.

Pakistan are yet to push aside the bitter memories of a shocking 1-3 defeat against minnows Japan earlier this week and are wary of the Indians, whose team is unbeaten in the event so far.

Junaid said that Pakistan are expecting their players to perform with responsibility.

“All we want them to do is show the sort of responsibility that they exhibited against Korea the other day,” said Junaid referring to Pakistan’s much-needed 3-2 triumph over Korea on Wednesday. “If everyone performs his job then I’m sure we will win tomorrow,” he said.

History is on Pakistan’s side ahead of the high-voltage encounter. Out of the 147 matches played between the two rivals, Pakistan have won 75, drawn 24 and lost 48 times. They have scored 347 goals as compared to India’s 278.

The Greenshirts triumphed 3-1 over India in their last match at this year’s Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh (Malaysia).

Michael Nobbs, India’s Australian coach, has admitted that his charges will have to give their best to beat Pakistan.

"Since I have taken up this assignment, this is my first opportunity to play against Pakistan and that is really exciting. For my team it is a big step. There is going to be huge pressure on our boys and it would be interesting to see how they cope with it," Nobbs said in an interview on Thursday.

"It's a dream match for the boys and then if you win the reward is a place in the final. I won't be way of the mark if I say nobody gave us a chance of even being in the reckoning. So for the team and the boys, it's a great moment," he said.