IPL Preview: Upbeat Daredevils meet disjointed RCB while Kings XI face Supergiant in 'do-or-die' clash

Only pride will be at stake when Delhi Daredevils host embattled Royal Challengers Bangalore in an inconsequential IPL game here on Saturday with both teams seeking an end to their misfiring campaign on a positive note.

In the other match, Kings XI Punjab will be aiming to continue their late surge against Rising Pune Supergiant in a "winner takes it all" Indian Premier League encounter.

Both franchises are already out of reckoning for play- offs berths following a forgettable season.

While inconsistency has been the Delhi Daredevils bane, Royal Challengers Bangalore endured horror run in the landmark 10th edition of the cash-rich T20 extravaganza.

Even as the Daredevils shocked Rising Pune Supergiants by seven runs in their last match, at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Royal Challengers Bangalore were made to bite the dust by Kolkata Knight Riders in their last game.

RCB are languishing at the bottom of the table with just two wins and 10 defeats after 13 matches, Daredevils are placed a shade better at sixth position with six victories and seven losses in as many games as their beleaguered opponents.

Star-studded RCB's captain Virat Kohli has "embraced" what has been a disastrous season, saying his team would learn from the mistakes and move on.

Kohli, who smashed a record-shattering 973 runs last year including four centuries, managed, barely 250 runs this season. It was a remarkable dip by his own standards.

He missed the first three games to recover from a shoulder injury and the tide did not turn for good even after his return.

Big-hitting opener Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers were major disappointments as was Shane Watson, who conceded it was his worst IPL season ever.

Life has come full circle for the Australian all-rounder who was an integral part of Rajasthan Royals' triumphant campaign in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008.

As has often been the case, Delhi Daredevils' fortunes fluctuated through the tournament, yet again missing out on a play-off berth.

Youngsters such as Rishabh Pant he had joined the team hours after his father breathed his last Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer flourished in patches, giving the team's success-starved fans something to cheer about, albeit occasionally.

Karun Nair found some form going his way in the last game and he would look to capitalise on it, and Pant too would like to add to his impressive tally.

The seasoned Zaheer Khan, who led his unit admirably despite defending a not-so- formidable total in the last game against a batting-heavy Rising Pune Supergiant, would want another disciplined outing from his bowlers.

Supergiant who fluffed their lines in what seemed to be an easy run-chase against out of contention Delhi Daredevils only to keep the race of final four open till the last game.

Supergiant are currently on 16 points from 13 games with a net run-rate -0.083 while Kings XI Punjab are on 14 points from equal number of matches but have a comparatively better run-rate of +0.296.

When the two teams square off on Sunday, the equation is pretty simple for Glenn Maxwell's team. A win is all that they need to qualify as it will take them to 16 points with a superior net run rate. The Punjab outfit doesn't have to look at any other results.

For Supergiant, a defeat will be dangerous if Sunrisers Hyderabad happen to win their game against Gujarat Lions and clinch their play-off place with 17 points.