The Hyperchem Pharmacy Lautoka Football side will be out to end its 21-year drought of winning the Digicel Fiji FACT this year at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
While the Blues are drawn in a tough pool with defending champions Suva FC, nine-time winners Ba FC and minnows Navua FC, they will have to execute their plan well from the opening game to progress to the knockout stages from Group A.
They had a good start in round one of the Digicel Fiji Premier League with six wins, one draw, and two losses.
Lautoka FC drew 0-0 against Ba FC, won 2-1 with Suva FC, and was defeated 1-2 by Navua FC in the DPL round one under new coach Ronil Kumar and are placed second in the points table ladder.
Kumar has a huge task ahead of him to give Lautoka its victory after 21 years and for sure he has worked out his own game plan well to face the three top teams once again in the Digicel Fiji FACT in the Group stages to advance to the semi-finals.
Lautoka has a formidable team with players like Zibraz Sahib, Afraz Ali, Sitiveni Cavuilagi, Aporosa Yada, Manasa Nawakula, Kishan Sami, Epeli Leiroti, Ilmotama Jese, Marika Rawasoi, Muni Shivam Naidu,Sairusi Nalaubu, Saula Waqa, Antonio Tuivuna, Poasa Bainivalu, Sekaraia Naisua, Junior Dekedeke and Sterling Vasconcelos to name a few.
They have depth in the squad and if things work out well for the Blues for sure they will advance to the knockout stages and win the tournament.
The Sugar City Boys have won the title two times.
Players to watch: Sairusi Nalaubu and Junior Dekedke
Lautoka Fiji FACT file
Runner-up: 1996, 1999, 2009
Winners: 2000 and 2002.
