Coach Joel Santana hasn't yet confirmed who will replace the suspended Fábio Luciano, but defender Thiago Sales is already feeling the excitement for the derby against Vasco, next Thursday at Maracanã. The young Flamengo prospect knows all about facing Flamengo's biggest rival and has fond memories of the match. He scored the winning goal in the 1-0 victory in the first leg of this year's youth championship finals, which saw the Flamengo reach its third title in the category. "Matches against Vasco are always special. The rivalry is fierce, the fans always show up, but the professional team is very different from the youth teams. I have fond memories against Vasco and I need to do well in this important derby," commented Thiago, always remembering that Rodrigo Arroz, Joel Santana's other option, could also come into the team and do the job. For Thiago, the entire Vasco team deserves respect. As a defender, however, he knows he'll be locked in a duel with striker Leandro Amaral, Vasco's top scorer. "He's a great player and can't afford to be left with space. He's the kind of player who thinks quickly and knows what to do with the ball before he even receives it. We have to be alert throughout the match," he warned.