Less than 72 hours after returning to Singapore from their 6-1 defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first leg of their Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two Quarter-Final, the Lion City Sailors will be back in Singapore Premier League (SPL) action as they take on Hougang United at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday (9 March) night.

As such, there will be little time for the Sailors to dwell on their loss in Hiroshima as they look to bounce back immediately and keep their promising season on track.

Indeed, Sailors skipper Hariss Harun even believes the defeat to three-time J1 League champions Sanfrecce is not necessarily all doom and gloom — if taken the right way.

“Playing against a top Japanese side is always tough, and Sanfrecce showed their quality by making things very difficult for us,” said Hariss. “Despite the scoreline, we can still take heart from our first-half performance, where we managed to pull a goal back — that’s a positive we can take away.

“It’s important for us to experience these games against high-level opposition, as they show us the standard required to compete at the top. Obviously, there’s a lot for us to improve on, but we have shown throughout our campaign that we can hold our own against the best. That is the level we aspire to reach.”

Less than eight hours separated the final whistle at the Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima and the Sailors’ flight back to Singapore — yet such short turnarounds have been a hallmark of their packed season so far.

So, while the Sailors may not have had much time to rest or prepare for the game against the Cheetahs, Hariss remains confident that his side can still get the result they need this weekend.

“It’s definitely tiring, especially with all the travelling, but we have to pick ourselves up — both physically and mentally — and go again,” said Hariss. “Everyone in the team knows what we want to achieve, so we’re going to give our all and push each other to secure the three points on Sunday.”

Under interim coach Robert Eziakor, Hougang have shown they are no slouches and are more than capable of springing a surprise. Despite losing two of their last three games, Hariss remains wary of their threat — having seen them claim victories over BG Tampines Rovers and Albirex Niigata (S) since the start of the year.

“Hougang have quality foreign players and experienced heads who have played at the international level,” Hariss explained. “They are a side that must be taken seriously, but as long as we focus on ourselves and the task ahead, I’m confident we can get the victory we need.”

With a nine-point lead at the top of the table and a game in hand, it might be easy for complacency to creep into the Sailors’ minds. But, having seen league titles slip from their grasp in recent years, Hariss is determined to keep the team focused until the finish line.

“We’ve been in strong positions in recent seasons but still fell short,” explained Hariss. “Now, we have the experience to ensure that it doesn’t happen again this time, which is why we’re not dwelling on our current position. There are still crucial games ahead, and we won’t stop fighting until we achieve our targets for the year.”

A key driving force behind the Sailors’ title push has been their loyal supporters, who have once again shown unwavering dedication to the team. In fact, a small group of them even braved the cold in Hiroshima to stand by the Sailors for the full 90 minutes.

“From the electric nights at Jalan Besar to tough battles like the one we just had in Hiroshima, one thing has never changed — our fans have been tremendous,” said Hariss. “Their presence gives us that extra motivation to keep pushing, so I just want to express my appreciation for their unwavering support. I know they’ll continue standing by us until the end of the season.”