Newly promoted Ghana Premier League side, Karela United will open their G-8 tournament account with a clash against Hearts of Oak at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Saturday with high hopes of upsetting the Phobians.

The Nzema Ayinase based club will go into the game without any injury concern. They have spent close to 21-days in pre-season in Ivory Coast rounding up double drawn games against ASEC Mimosas.

The 2016/17 Division One League, Zone Two champions are without their top scorer, Sampson Eduku whose contract issues are yet to be sorted out.

New recruit, Ibrahim Moro and Emmanuel Osei Baffuor from Bolga All Stars and Ashgold respectively were named in the 25-man squad by Coach Johnson Smith and they could make their debut appearance.

Hearts of Oak’s coach Frank Nutall has return from his Christmas break and are poised to take on Karela who will savour the occasion to know what it takes to play giants like Hearts of Oak.

After unsuccessful trials in South Korea, Karela United captain, William Opoku will definitely be one of the players to watch. He enviably scored 27 goals in 41 games in two seasons.

Karela United seem have been more organized than Accra Heats of Oak in pre-season and that could count for them but they dare not underrate the mighty Oak Tree.