In clash of equals, Chennai Super Kings have edge over Mumbai Indians in today's Qualifier-1

The script has been perfect for Mumbai Indians this year. Having begun with four straight losses, no one would have expected the Rohit Sharma-led 2013 champions to finish in the top two and give themselves two shots for a place in the final.

Keeping aside the first four defeats, Mumbai Indians have won eight of their last 10 games, which shows that they were hitting the right notes when it mattered. "Peaking at the right time," as MI skipper Sharma said the other day after one of the wins. This makes them a dangerous outfit even for a champion side like Chennai Super Kings, who seem to do no wrong.

Mumbai Indians would be keen to seal their berth in the May 24 final in Kolkata with a win against Chennai Super Kings in Tuesday's Qualifier-1 rather than go through Qualifier-2 in Ranchi on May 22, where the winner of May 20 Eliminator in Pune (Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore) takes on Qualifier-1 loser.

By finishing second in the table, Mumbai Indians have given themselves a huge advantage of playing on their home ground, even through for all technical purposes, Wankhede Stadium is only a neutral venue for both the teams.

It so happens that Mumbai Indians are playing at the Wankhede, which was their home ground until the league stage. They could have played their playoff at a neutral venue in Pune had they finished third or fourth. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India taking over the venues from the playoffs stage, it is still a neutral venue with no owners' interference in any matter.

Mumbai have the 'home' advantage, which might work against Chennai Super Kings. However, that should not matter for the MS Dhoni-led two-time champions, who are not expecting an easy game. They know Mumbai Indians are tough to beat at home.

On the eve of the match CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said, "We need to play smart and back ourselves. It's a great occasion, Mumbai against Chennai. It's a difficult game and a tough place to win but that's what we are here for. We didn't expect an easy game in a playoff match."

Easy, it will not be for CSK as MI have covered all their areas admirably. New Zealand left-arm speedser Mitchell McClenaghan is looking dangerous and among wickets while Lasith Malinga has come back very ball after being miserable in a few early games. Parthiv Patel, at the top of the order, has begun to score runs, which augurs well for MI batting and reduces the burden of Sharma. Their batting line-up has settled down well so much so that a T20 specialist in Alex Hales from England, flown in as a replacement for Corey Anderson and who joined the team for the last game in Hyderabad, will only have to warm the bench.

On the other hand, CSk will feel the absence of Brendon McCullum, who has formed a formidable partnership with Dwayne Smith and who has flown to England for the Test tour. But CSK have an equally effective replacement in Australian Mike Hussey, who though was introduced in this league in the previous game and did not spend enough time in the middle against Kings XI Punjab.

But going by the time Hussey spent at the nets on Monday and the manner in which he was hitting the ball, clearing the boundary with ease and long, Hussey, who turns 40 on May 27, could just get his 'timing' right against MI, whom he represented last year with moderate success.

All things being equal, CSK look the team to seek direct entry as they know the knack of winning crunch games and have done it more often in the past. Chase down any total, like they did of 183 with ease here a little over a month ago, or ask them to defend a tall score with the type of bowlers, led by the mean Ashish Nehra, CSK will only make MI work hard.