COACH Tom Saintfiet hopes that the Philippines will gain positive results in its final two matches, both on the road, in the joint FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

“Vietnam and Indonesia are good teams,” said Saintfiet. “Two strong opponents, two teams who will play at home, that’s their advantage.

“We always play to win. As a coach I never play to lose and we know it will be tough. I don’t say we will gonna win but the intention that we have is to face Vietnam and try to get the three points there.

“We will see if we are through that level. If not, then we have to improve. It would be nice to get points, and if we could get a win in these games, that would be naturally brilliant,” he added.

The Filipinos will return to the My Dinh National Stadium, the site of the fabled “Miracle of Hanoi” that the team formerly known as Azkals pulled it off in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, when they take on the Golden Star Warriors at 8 p.m. (Philippine time).

The Philippines will meet Vietnam and Indonesia again later this year in Group B the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

The Filipinos will wrap up their Group F campaign against the Garuda on Tuesday night at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Iraq has already advanced into the third round with a maximum of 12 points in Group F.

The Garuda are in second place with seven points, four clear of the Golden Star Warriors, who have three in third spot.

Although the Filipinos currently sit in last place in Group F with only a solitary point, a glimmer of hope remains that the team can still progress into the next round of the World Cup Asian qualifiers.

The Philippines has lost its last five matches against Vietnam. The Filipinos’ last victory over the Golden Star Warriors was in the AFF Suzuki Cup group stage in Bangkok on Nov. 27, 2012, a 1-0 win courtesy of a Chieffy Caligdong goal.

The arrival of Vietnam’s new coach from South Korea, Kim Sang-sik, who was appointed to replace Philippe Troussier last month, will be also a challenge for the Philippines.

“They are a skillful team,” said Sainrfiet, who hopes to score a victory after losing twice to Iraq in the March window.

The Filipinos, Saintfiet said, will parade a mix of experienced cast and new faces for this June window with veteran goalkeeper Neil Etheridge expected to wear the captain’s armband.

The Philippines will feature 10 changes to the squad that was last assembled in March, with six players set to potentially make their national team debut. The squad will enter today’s contest on the back of a training camp which began in Dubai on May 26.

Having had extra time to prepare, 24-year-old Christian Rontini has confidence the Filipinos can step up to the challenge.

“We’re playing in a World Cup Qualifier and we have no doubts, we are full of motivation. With Coach Tom in the last 10 days, our team has prepared well, said Rontini.

“With the new faces and the younger generation also now part of the senior team, we don’t have any excuses tomorrow, it’s a final. We are playing for the qualification and I’m very happy and excited to give everything for my nation, and hopefully we get the best from this game.”