Hearts of Oak SC Head Coach, Charles Kwablan Akunnor would be supervising his fourth game since joining the Phobians when they walk into action against sworn rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko in a crucial Premier League duel at the Baba Yara Stadium-Kumasi on Sunday, in a game the former Black Stars skipper says has arrived just in time.

Hearts has won twice and lost once in their last three games under newly appointed coach Akunnor and he tells GNA Sports playing the League leaders at this time is the test his charges need to access the progress they have made in their recent forward march.

C.K. Akunnor said “the game has not arrived too early. I remember when I arrived at Eleven Wise, my first game was against Kotoko and that was still not too early. Here at Hearts, I have put in place a lot since I arrived.

“My first game against Liberty was a big wake up call. The last two results, however, show we are nearing the balance we seek and playing Kotoko will afford us yet another opportunity to put to test what we are trying to achieve.’

Akunnor said the Phobians, who are ten points adrift of Kotoko in the title race would approach “the game as normal bearing in mind that the game is very important to our fans and we will work hard for a decent result”.

“We understand that to the fans, players and technical team; this is a game of our lives. I have a lot of respect for Kotoko, Maxwell Konadu and all that they have achieved, but that respect will be incapable of stopping us from our goal.”

Hearts were 3-0 winners over Wa All Stars in their last game in Accra, an outcome which appeared to have provided the former champions the right tonic to travel to Kumasi for the game that could ultimately define their season.

“The result against All Stars was very good because it represent how hard we have been working and the balance we are beginning to gain. With that, we go into Sunday’s game humbled, but with confidence that we can get better.

“We have been seeking improvement since my arrival and what a way to continue that with a game against Kotoko.”

Hearts’ spell has seen a jerky trend this season with moments of brilliance that soar the hope of their faithful compared to a rather smooth one for the arch rivals who have only experienced minimum shocks.

Kotoko also last weekend beat relegation-threatened Wassaman United 3-1 at the Tarkwa T and A Park to set up an interesting encounter between the country's two most glamorous Clubs.**