Cologne (Germany): With a victory still eluding India in the Champions Trophy, its hopes of finishing in the top four of the prestigious tournament now rest solely on its defence, particularly goal-keeping, against Australia in a crucial match on Tuesday.

India drew 3-3 with Holland and lost 2-3 to World champions Germany and it will hope to arrest the downward trend against the World Cup runners up in what promises to be thrilling contest.

But for that it will have to ensure a watertight defence and at the same time hope that the frontline of Prabhjot Singh, Gagan Ajit Singh, Deepak Thakur and Dhanraj Pillay deliver the goods.

In the two matches that India has played, the forwards have managed to sneak in the goals but a loss of concentration in crucial periods like the last five minutes in a match have robbed India of an outright win and a deserving draw.

The situation would have been vastly different if India had held onto its 3-2 lead against Holland and its 2-2 score-line against Germany. Four points in the bag would have meant India would have placed second in the points tally, a much better position than the fifth it enjoys in this six-nation tournament at present.

India's coach Rajinder Singh was, however, happy with the way the team has played till now. "I think I can say I am satisfied. They have fought well and have got the goals that were not coming in earlier tournaments," said Rajinder.

"Yes, I am concerned with the late goals that the team has been conceding but I think with time the boys will learn to hold their own in pressure situations."

The Indian coach has every reason to believe in his team but the fault cannot be taken away from the boys. Indian captain, Dilip Tirkey, with over 200 internationals under his belt, has the experience but has been found wanting in the tackle.

In the match against Germany, Tirkey was beaten more than a couple of times by the speed of Oliver Domke and Timo Wess. The same goes for goal-keeper Devesh Chauhan. He did his share of the work under the bar when India won the junior World Cup and was played in the last three matches of the 2002 World Cup after regular goal-keeper Jude Menezes flopped.

For him to be beaten by straight flicks aimed at the body should be a huge personal disappointment.

From the point of tournament form, Australia are at its lowest, especially after the 1-6 battering that it received from the Dutch and it would be good if the Indians can go all out and test their defence from the word go.

"That is what we hope to do," said Rajinder Singh. "They are a good team but the Dutch showed that they were getting beaten on the counter-attack. That is where all the Dutch goals came from."

Rajinder Singh's hope that the Indian goals will come from counter-attacks is a fair assessment of what has transpired till now in the tournament.

PTI