Three more points would confirm Bengal a berth in the knockout round of this Ranji Trophy.

Having won both their matches so far, an upbeat Bengal, currently at the top of group B with 12 points, will now lock horns with Chandigarh in their final group phase contest, beginning on Thursday at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.

Even a point from this game may earn them a place in the knockout stage as Bengal will then finish with 13 points.

But if Hyderabad, on six points at present, thrash Baroda in the other game and get seven points, they too will finish with 13 and that could again complicate matters for Bengal.

For sure, the team management is aware of such a situation and wants the players to guard against complacency. “We’ll have to maintain the intensity and try and look to win this game as well,” head coach Arun Lal said on Wednesday.

Bengal, though, will be missing the services of pace bowler Akash Deep, who has hurt his left toe.

Akash was instrumental in Bengal’s 72-run win over Hyderabad in their previous game, where he scalped four wickets in the second innings. “Akash hurt his toe at the team hotel (in Bhubaneswar). It’s not very serious, but at present, he’s having a bit of discomfort in that area,” Lal said.

In Akash’s place, Nilkantha Das is likely to be included, though Bengal also have the option of drafting in young pacer Ravi Kumar, the hero of this year’s U-19 World Cup final, into the XI.

Batting has continued to be Bengal’s area of concern. Against Hyderabad, the bowlers and Shahbaz Ahmed’s all-round showing played a massive role in taking the Abhimanyu Easwaran-led side home. The captain himself too must be eager to get a big hundred, especially after missing the mark by 21 runs in the second innings against Baroda.

Now, who would partner Easwaran upfront? Will Bengal persist with Sudip Gharami? Or will the more experienced Abhishek Raman get an opportunity?

Easwaran feels soft dismissals are something that his team needs to avoid. “We also need to ensure we don’t give our wickets away through run-out dismissals,” the skipper pointed out.

Also, whether off-spinner Writtick Chatterjee returns to the XI in place of Sayan Sekhar Mondal depends on the nature of the pitch.