Kedah plays their second cup final in consecutive years when they take on Pahang in the 2017 FA Cup final on Saturday at Shah Alam Stadium. The Red Eagles also appeared in the Malaysia Cup final last year in the same stadium and lifted the trophy on that occasion - so there will be plenty of positive memories for the player to draw from.
In the pre-match press conference held on Friday evening, caretaker coach Nidzam Adzha pointed to their constant visit to the ground as something that could usher familiarity and his players will not be feeling the jitters ahead of a cup final.
For the Tan Cheng Hoe replacement who has been entrusted with the role until the end of the 2017 season, Nidzam has only one aim on Saturday and that is to help Kedah win and be the first Malaysian qualifier to the 2018 AFC Cup.
"The players are focus. They are comfortable playing at Shah Alam Stadium. We play every game like a final and tomorrow we will perform as per our usual performance. We will try to be the champions," said the former Perak and Kedah winger.
While comparatively, Kedah players will have largely more experience than their counterpart, the situation is reversed on the coaching front. Dollah Salleh is undoubtedly the senior man, compared to Nidzam but the latter brushed that away as a non-factor in a cup final.
"I’ve already advised the players, the coaches don’t decide the final. It’s the players themselves. In the final, where both teams are quality teams. It’s 50-50," added Nidzam.
Kedah are still hoping that Zac Anderson can recover from his injury to play but is otherwise prepared to use Syawal Nordin alongside captain, Khairul Helmi in the centre of their defence. Apart from that, Kedah have everyone else fit.
With Liridon Krasniqi, Sandro da Silva and Ken Ilso ready and available, Nidzam have the firepower to help Kedah reclaim the FA Cup trophy that they last won in 2008.
