India captain Saurav Ganguly believes his side's recent success against arch-rivals Pakistan will count for little when the teams meet in the Asia Cup on Sunday.
Pakistan produced a dismal performance against Sri Lanka on Wednesday and must beat India to retain a chance of qualifying for the final.
India can still qualify if they lose, assuming they do not concede a bonus point and beat Sri Lanka on Tuesday, but they would then have to depend on their net run rate.
India start as favourites after their 3-2 win in Pakistan this year, but Ganguly says his team will be taking no chances against very dangerous opponents.
"The past does not matter in any tournament in sport," Ganguly told reporters. "It will be a new day and whoever plays well tomorrow will win the game.
"We will have to play well," he added. "Whoever wins this game will probably go to the finals. It is an important game for both sides."
India face a selection dilemma over the make-up of their bowling attack, with left-armer Zaheer Khan having recovered from a hamstring injury.
Spinners Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble are also competing for one place.
"Zaheer Khan is definitely part of the selection, but we have to see how he is bowling because (Ashish) Nehra bowled very well in the last game," said Ganguly.
Middle order batsman Vangipurappu Laxman is expected to be fit despite missing practice after being hit on the knee in the nets on Friday.
"He got hit in the net by a ball before the Sri Lanka game and he has been hit in the same place again - it is a bruise not an injury," Ganguly said.
"We did not want to risk him in the nets today so gave him a break so that he will be fit for tomorrow."
A small crowd is expected for tomorrow's match but Ganguly insists the pressure will be just as intense.
"India-Pakistan is India-Pakistan wherever you play. The results are watched by millions," he said. "The intensity and pressure of the game will be the same.
New Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said he would be looking to stay calm.
"Like any old rivalry, be it Yorkshire-Lancashire or England-Australia, this is going to be a fantastic occasion," Woolmer told reporters.
"Coaches like myself have to keep calm in these situations so that we see objectively what goes on in the game."
Woolmer brushed side Pakistan's eight-wicket loss to Sri Lanka as a blip.
"We have only had one bad game funnily enough," he said. "The reality is that the boys played very well in the two opening games and we bowled very well against Sri Lanka.
"If we bat better than we did against Sri Lanka then it should be a very good game.
Pakistan's only injury concern is opener Imran Farhat who is struggling with a left ankle injury and is rated only "50-50" according to Woolmer.