Geylang International will be looking to lift themselves out of the doldrums when they host second placed Albirex Niigata (S) at the Bedok Stadium in the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League on Sunday evening.
Jorg Steinebrunner's men have not won in their four previous league matches, having drawn 2-2 against Balestier Khalsa followed by successive losses to Hougang United, Harimau Muda and Tampines Rovers.
Consequently, Geylang have dropped to eighth in the 10-team table and are five points behind fifth placed Balestier Khalsa.
However, winger Hafiz Nor believes his side can put up a good run of form in the remaining games and reignite their aspirations of finishing inside the top half.
"In comparison with last season, we're definitely a better team this year," he told ESPN FC. "We've worked hard and given our 100 percent in both training and matches. However, this is football and winning and losing are part and parcel of the game.
"We had a good run of form in the TNP League Cup. Now we have to learn to be more consistent in the league. We can still make it into the top half."
The Eagles fired in a total of 10 goals in four TNP League Cup games. 26-year-old Hafiz wants his teammates to replicate the scoring form in the league where they are one of the lowest scorers with just 13 goals in as many matches.
The Eagles are up against a well-drilled Albirex outfit which has conceded just 10 goals in 14 games. The two sides have faced each other already twice this season, with the White Swans triumphing on both occasions -- a 1-0 victory at Jurong East in the league in April followed by a comfortable 3-0 win in the TNP League Cup semifinal.
"Everyone can see Albirex is a much disciplined side, so we have to give our 100 percent till the very last minute," said the 26-year-old, who has scored four goals in all competitions till date.
"They are one of the top teams this season. But if we can put together the same run of good form of the League Cup we can put in goals past them."
With Hafiz Osman serving the second of his two-match suspension, Yuki Ichikawa is set to be deployed at the heart of defence alongside Kento Fukuda for the second match running. The duo will need to stop their fellow Japanese countrymen representing Albirex from ruining the Eagles' first game back at Bedok since late May.
Geylang International Probable Lineup: Yazid Yasin (GK), Anaz Hadee, Yuki Ichikawa, Kento Fukuda, Syed Thaha, Nor Azli Yusoff, Shah Hirul, Hafiz Nor, Jozef Kaplan (C), Tatsuro Inui, Bruno Castanheira
Albirex Niigata (S) Probable Lineup: Yosuke Nozawa (GK, C), Mikiya Yamada, Takahiro Saito, Kento Fujihara, Itsuki Yamada, Shun Inaba, Hikaru Mizuno, Rui Kumada, Fumiya Kogure, Rion Taki, Atsushi Kawata