India national football team coach Igor Stimac on Monday was in a happy space, enjoying the “good headache”. India take on Hong Kong in the last game of Group D AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday and the Croat was in a relaxed mood, basking in the accolades that followed the thrilling 2-1 win over Afghanistan.

Be it a banter with captain Sunil Chhetri or the odd joke with newspersons, Stimac was in full flow. That India have more or less secured a berth in the main round — they were favourites in the group — surely has had its effect on the coach.

“We will train and then decide who is to be rested and who will start against Hong Kong. But whom do you pick and who do you leave out?” Stimac said at the pre-match news conference. For example, Sahal Samad, after his winning goal against Afghanistan, has staked his claim for more game time, while senior pros like Pritam Kotal and Subhashis Bose are also waiting in the wings.

“This is my main worry, and I love this worry. I love this kind of headache you know — it’s a pleasant one, a good one,” he added.

Both India and Hong Kong could book berths even before the kick-off if results in other groups favour the two. Even if it doesn’t, a draw would be enough. Hong Kong and India have six points each but the former top the group by virtue of a better goal difference. The six group winners and best five second-placed teams earn a ticket to the 24-team main round.

Stimac agreed pressure would be less on Tuesday than it was against Afghanistan. “Obviously there is less pressure on us to win this game but the hunger and motivation remain the same,” he said.

Chhetri, who struck a delightful free-kick to give India the lead the other day, said India would like to continue from where they left off against Afghanistan. “That’s what we would love to. Even though we have done well in the last two games, we have not achieved anything.”

Hong Kong last qualified for the Asian Cup in 1968 and coach Jorn Andersen is looking forward to the clash in front of a crowd who will root for the group hosts.

“For us the situation is really positive,” he said. “We didn’t expect it when we were coming here.”