Hearts of Oak's key actors are brooding the need to get out of the relegation zone quickly following a very poor first round. For the next five months starting this weekend, the club would need to do better in the second round.

While David Duncan says he is optimistic his new signings will live up to expectation, Mahatma Otoo has been speaking of leading a more spirited group of players.

"We are still working on the team and I don’t think we are here yet," said team boss David Duncan on Wednesday.

But the coach admitted that the team still needs touching up. "There are some players that we need to work on and make sure we build a formidable side as we have all known Accra Hearts of Oak to be."

The phobians are in an unfamiliar position:15 points after 15 games from winning three games, losing six and drawing the rest. Duncan knows the state of the team and is candid about what has to be done.

"I know we are far behind what the standard is but I can tell you there is work in progress I am optimistic but I am taking one thing at a time," he told Citi FM.

The team begins its attempt at a revival against King Faisal on Sunday, and Mahatma Otoo feels the pan of the fans ahead of the league's resumption.

"They won’t forgive us if we continue to break their hearts with below-par performances. We have a difficult game against King Faisal this Sunday and this is where the revival should start."

Hearts have some momentum going into Sunday's game, having won 3-0 in the MTN FA Cup last Sunday against Tamale Utrecht.

The 2012-13 GPL season will come to an end on June 23, 2013