Chennai Super Kings might not be playing their best cricket right now but given their overall team combination and some of the individual names, they're always a team to reckon with.

The Mumbai Indians will have to keep that in mind when the two teams clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Mumbai are one up on Chennai having won the opening clash of the tournament this season.

However, Harbhajan Singh's men haven't really lived up to the billing of being the team with most potential team in IPL-5 since then. The openers haven't clicked, thus putting the pressure on the middle order for building totals or setting up chases -- that's been MI's story so far.

Thanks to a prolific bowling attack, MI haven't really faced the brunt of most oppositions yet. But, does that make Mumbai Indians a weaker team? Weak enough to be not able to counter Chennai Super Kings! The answer is 'No'.

Given the overall combination of both teams, MI -- being the hosts -- still hold the advantage.

There's Sachin Tendulkar's experience at the helm, good hitters like James Franklin and Richard Levi up the order, youngsters like Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu -- both proven match-winners -- to lead the assault, a dependable wicket-keeper batsman in Dinesh Karthik and the blaster in Kieron Pollard (if he is match-fit).

As far as the bowling is concerned, Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga, despite missing out on a couple of matches, proves to be lethal. He's still among the top five wicket-takers, a contender for the purple cap, and a terror for batsmen who fear the new ball or the toe-crushers.

Then, the question is why exactly should MI fear CSK?

Chennai's opening too faces a disorder, Suresh Raina hasn't been clicking, Albie Morkel's form has been on and off and Ravindra Jadeja still hasn't been fully tested.

It is Faf du Plessis and skipper MS Dhoni alone who've been regularly rescuing the ship so far and any turbulence there can rock their proceedings. As far as the bowling is concerned, pacer Doug Bollinger has looked ordinary and so has off-spinner R Ashwin.

Yet, on paper, CSK appear a formidable team.

That is where MI -- a team still looking for consistency -- has to beware. Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions, can always spring the possible surprise.

At home, MI have a contest on the cards.