Delhi Daredevils face a Herculean task to bring their campaign back on track as they prepare to clash against Kings XI Punjab in their next IPL clash in New Delhi today.

Delhi are at the bottom of the points table, having suffered three defeats in four matches, while Punjab are in sparkling form with three victories in a row.

Delhi's batting has mostly let them down but for the match against Pune Warriors when they successfully chased down a 180-plus score.

Delhi, wearing a completely new look in the fourth edition, are feeling the absence match-winning batsmen.

High-class players such as Gautam Gambhir and Tillakaratne Dilshan have moved to other franchises and Delhi's management must be repenting the decision to let them go.

Except for the openers - captain Virender Sehwag and David Warner - the hosts do not have reliable batsmen.

Their middle order has decent players in Y Venugopal Rao, Aaron Finch and all-rounder Irfan Pathan but they have not yet performed to the expectations.

Adding to the woes is form of Sehwag, who has not been consistent enough, but even if were to be in form, it will be difficult for him to steer the side to victories all the time single-handedly.

It's time that other players perform and take the pressure off the openers. Young Indian players such as Naman Ojha and foreign recruits such as James Hopes have to justify their presence in the squad.

The bowling of the hosts is also weak. Paceman Morne Morkel is the only bowler who has left some impression on the rival batsmen.

Delhi badly need Ashok Dinda, Pathan and Hopes to fire.

On the other hand, Kings XI Punjab are on a different plane altogether. Their top order has been so consistent with the bat that the middle-order has not yet been exposed enough to the firing line.

That's their strength but could also be a weak link as lack of exposure may prove dangerous if the top-order fails.

Skippered by the inspiring Adam Gilchrist, who led Deccan Chargers to the title in the second edition, Punjab have already scored big upsets in the tournament by defeating Chargers and reigning champions Chennai Super Kings.

Their top-order is in prime form and key for the Delhi bowlers would be to get them out early.

But getting the top-order batsmen out won't be an easy job as Adam Gilchrist, Paul Valthaty, Shaun Marsh and Dinesh Karthik are all in superb touch.

Also, Punjab bowlers did well in clash with seamers Praveen Kumar and Ryan Harris providing a good start before spinners shone later on.

Punjab vs Delhi in the IPL

Punjab have won four and lost two out of six played against Delhi in the IPL.

Punjab have won both their games against Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi - by 6 runs on May 17, 2008 and by 7 wickets on April 11, 2010.

Overall IPL record

Delhi have won 25 and lost 22 out of 47 played - winning % 53.19.

Punjab have won 23 and lost 23 out of 47 played - winning % 50.00 (Tied 1)

Approaching milestones

- Adam Gilchrist (1329) requires 71 runs to complete his 1400 runs in the IPL.

- Irfan Pathan (49) needs one wicket to complete his 50 wickets in the IPL.

- Adam Gilchrist (96) requires four sixes to complete his century of sixes in Twenty20.

- Gilchrist (1882) needs 118 runs to complete his 2000 runs in Twenty20

- Morne Morkel (48) requires two wickets to complete his 50 wickets in Twenty20.

- James Hopes (985) needs 15 runs to complete his 1000 runs in Twenty20.