Shabbir has openly admitted that doubts and skepticism that marked his team's campaign in the quarterfinal group league stage of national tournament, have now given way to a deep sense of self-belief that stems from a sterling show by the defending champions in their last two games.
As Branco and Co prepare to face Manipur in the final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday, Shabbir is confident that his boys will be able to provide the finishing touch.
Shabbir's conviction partly emanates from the fact that his players are hungry for victory. Only three players from Shabbir's 20-member stable have tasted Santosh Trophy success.
Captain Anupam Sarkar and Safar Sardar were part of Bengal's Santosh Trophy winning squad last year while Branco had tasted the success in Goa colours two years ago. The rest are a win away from their tryst with destiny.
"You just look into their eyes and you can make out that they are focused on finishing the job," goalkeeping coach Debashish Mukherjee insisted.
Manipur, too, are relishing the occasion, for Monday's final pits Bengal, the tournament's most successful team against the North-Eastern state that continues to export the largest number of well-bred footballers to other parts of the country.
If Bengal are looking to win the national championship for the 31st time, Manipur coach S Ekendra Singh is hoping that his young brigade will bring be able to repeat their 2002 success.
" Football in Manipur needs a spark to reach the next level. Maybe we can achieve that by winning the title tomorrow," said Ekendra, an AFC instructor and one of the principal functionaries of Vision Manipur project.
Manipur will miss Thoiba Singh, whose late penalty took his misfiring side to the final, through suspension (double yellow card). However, they still have enough ammunition at their disposal to pose a serious challenge to Bengal's title aspirations.
In captain Nilakumar Singh and veteran Tiken Singh, they have a mix of energy and experience, good enough to unsettle any team's ambitions. Anupam's red-card had helped Manipur to overturn a 0-2 deficit to snatch a stalemate against Bengal in the quarterfinal league. But Shabbir believes that his players have learnt from their mistakes and are now ready to seize the moment
The Bengal coach is unlikely to tinker with his winning combination, depending on Branco and Budiram Tudu to lead the team's charge. The midfield combination of Mumtaz Akhtar and Santosh Oraon will again be at the core of Bengal's plans to the pacy Manipuri players in check.
It remains to be seen who has the last laugh.