The Super Kings would be starting out firm favourites against the Punjab...(Live updates I.P.L)

The fans are awe-struck with Matthew Hayden and his Mongoose bat following his 43-ball blitz Friday night at the Feozeshah Kotla and they look forward to another exhilarating experience from the opening batsman when Chennai Super Kings plays host to cellar-dwellers Kings XI Punjab here Sunday.

The ongoing Indian Premier League has not witnessed anything quite like Hayden's onslaught against the Delhi Daredevils who could not defend a total of 185 with the former Aussie opener belting 93, aided by seven sixes and nine boundaries. The five-wicket victory, their second in succession, gave the Super Kings campaign more momentum after the loss to Deccan Chargers in their opening fixture at home.

The Super Kings would be starting out firm favourites against the Punjab outfit that is in a bit of a mess after three consecutive defeats with no light to be seen at the end of the tunnel. Thus, the pressure is more on the visitors to get their act together and pick up their first points of the season.

In contrast, the Super Kings are flying high following their twin successes in Kolkata and Delhi. More importantly, the host team would be determined to put up a show to satiate their fans who were disappointed last Sunday after the defeat to the Chargers.

At the Kotla Friday night, the Super Kings would have felt the absence of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who is nursing an elbow injury, when Virender Sehwag was at full throttle. Dhoni's cover, Suresh Raina, just about survived the initial half of the game that exposed the Achilles heel of the Super Kings side, its bowling. It was left to Hayden and later Raina to see the team through the tricky chase.

The Super Kings would be yet again banking on their batting to see them past the Kings XI whose bowling has not really measured up to expectations. Punjab nearly pulled off a win against the Daredevils in their opening game at home, but lost in the last over. Later, they failed to defend a total of 203 against the Royal Challengers in Bangalore earlier this week before flying off to Cuttack where they lost to Chargers and now winging to Chennai.

Thus, a travel-weary Kings XI, carrying several out-of-form players and without Brett Lee, have their task cut out against the Super Kings.