The sample is small, but as the HJK performances easily pass the eye test they can be recommended on their home ground vs a team who are ranked somewhere 2nd - 4th for the upcoming season.
Losing to Betis is no surprise, but it was last season and HJK this season are younger, hungrier and better than ever, and they could had easily scored even more goals in these games. The friendly vs Tromsö was played on their camp in Spain, and HJK come this game well prepared and trained, although coming back from natural grass might bring some minor problems.
Honka will have their camp in Spain in early March, so far their season looks like this:
They were better than MIFK, got dominated most of match by Lahti despite winning, then an even encounter with KTP, easy win over a poor Estonian club Paide, and an undeserved loss v Inter last time.
Honka have clearly used the competition as a testing and training occasion and given minutes to all players evenly. HJK have done the same and are likely to continue to do so, but their player material width is so much bigger than they can afford it. In their game v Lahti last time they started with the 2nd string, were 5-1 up at the time when the national team players were brought i.
There are some HJK players in the army, some are injured but they will 20 players to choose from - all good ones. Honka have no major worries either.
This is a derby and although there is heavy rotation and 7 subs are allowed this is also the first game both teams will take more or less seriously, and in short - I see HJK as 55-60 % winners in the match.
