Singapore's youngest football international is set to start in the crunch South-east Asia Games Group B clash against arch-rivals Malaysia tomorrow.

National coach Raddy Avramovic had been considering shifting left-back Juma'at Jantan into the defensive midfield slot following Isa Halim's one-match suspension.

But Hariss' earlier-than-expected recovery from the groin strain that has plagued him for the past fortnight has now opened up an option the Serb is likely to take.

Hariss, 17, said yesterday: 'I couldn't kick a ball properly for the past two weeks, but my groin just felt much better today.

'Raddy tried me out in training, but it's up to him ultimately whether I play or not.'

The combative and hard-tackling midfielder will be a capable replacement for Isa, who was sent off in Monday's 3-2 win over Vietnam.

Hariss, who became the S-League's youngest player earlier this year, could not have chosen a more difficult start to mark his SEA Games debut.

Matches between Singapore and Malaysia have always been passionate and highly-charged affairs, whether at international or age-group level.

In a tradition stretching back to the Malaysia Cup days, neither team want to end up losing.

And the higher the stakes, the greater the rivalry and loss of face for the vanquished.

Tomorrow's match-up at the Suranaree University of Technology is no different.

The losers will be on an early plane home, while the winners qualify for the semi-finals.

While Malaysia need a win, Singapore require only a draw to move into the semi-finals for the first time since the SEA Games competition was switched to an Under-23 format in 2001.

Recognising the keen rivalry and what is at stake, Malaysia's Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said is among a clutch of VIPs turning up for the game to support the Tigers.

Said Hariss: 'It doesn't get any better than this.

'I played in the Lion City Cup final last year when we beat them 2-0.

'Though it was just an age-group game, the feeling was very different once I stepped onto the pitch.

'The traditional rivalry between the two countries that stretches back so many years makes it important that we go all out.'

For Lions like Muhammad Ridhuan, there is added motivation for victory.

'We want revenge for what happened in the Merdeka Cup,' said the winger.

He was part of the side that lost 1-3 the last time the two countries met in the semi-finals of August's Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

He also remembers fondly the roar that reveberated around Singapore's National Stadium when he scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw in the Asean Football Championship semi-final second leg nearly 11 months ago.

The Lions went on to win 5-4 on penalties.

Malaysian coach Baskaran Sathianathan, who is without star striker Mohamad Zaquan due to suspension, recognises the importance of the fixture.

'We want to play good football, and I hope things don't get out of hand,' he said.

limze@sph.com.sg

Recent encounters

Merdeka Cup semi-finals, August 2007 (Under-23): Malaysia 3 Singapore 1.

Asean Football Championship semi-finals, January 2007: Malaysia 1 Singapore 1 (1st leg), Singapore 1 Malaysia 1 (2nd leg), Lions win 5-4 on penalties

Causeway Challenge, June 2006: Singapore 0 Malaysia 0 (Singapore win 5-4 on penalties), Malaysia 0 Singapore 0 (Singapore win 8-7 on penalties)

Causeway Challenge, June 2005: Malaysia 1 Singapore 2, Singapore 2 Malaysia 0