KUALA LUMPUR: The odds are stacked heavily against Police, but coach Eddy Gapil insists his men will not go down without a fight when they host Negeri Sembilan in the FA Cup round of 16 second leg at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium tomorrow (Friday).

The Cops trail 0-5 from the first leg in Paroi three weeks ago, leaving their hopes of advancing hanging by a thread.

But for Eddy, the focus is no longer about chasing a miraculous comeback - it's about restoring pride.

"It's a near-impossible task, but what matters is how we perform over 90 minutes," he said.

"I want the players to show character, give everything they have, and if we can do that, we can walk away with our heads held high."

Police's preparations have been complicated by injuries with goalkeeper Ifwat Chek Kassim still recovering from a shoulder problem.

Nor Hakeen Hamidun is expected to play, while absences at the back, Agbre Noel and Kyaw Min Oo, will force a reshuffle in defence.

Eddy may also turn to fringe players in a bid to inject fresh energy into his side.

For Negeri Sembilan, the task seems straightforward, and that's to defend their five-goal advantage and book a place in the quarter-finals.

But their players are not taking anything for granted.

Negeri Sembilan last lifted the FA Cup in 2010, and with momentum on their side, they see this as a golden chance to revive their pedigree in the competition.