Full round of crucial fixtures in Zambia Super League

There is a rare full round of fixtures in the Zambia Super League this weekend including a top-of-the-table clash as Zanaco in third host second-place Forest Rangers in Lusaka on Saturday.

The pair have watched as leaders Zesco United streak ahead in the title race in recent weeks and any fading hopes of lifting the championship will likely be extinguished for the loser of this contest.

Both sides have been too inconsistent of late, with Rangers recording three wins and three defeats in their last six games, and Zanaco two wins and two losses in their last four. They need to put together a successive run of wins of they are to mount a serious challenge to Zesco.

Zanaco are protecting a 12-game unbeaten run at home (W8 D4), while Rangers have battled on the road with just two wins in nine (D2 L5).

The last two clashes, both at Rangers, have finished 0-0, while overall the visitors have won just three of their previous 25 games against bogey side Zanaco (D9 L13).

Zesco may be on a run of eight straight wins, but face a tricky away day at in-form Indeni, who are unbeaten in seven (W4 D3).

The visitors have not lost away since a surprise 1-0 defeat at Young Green Eagles at the start of February and no side has taken more points than them (21) on the road this season.

Zesco have won four of the last five meetings between the sides, with a single draw. The reverse fixture this season finished 3-2 to Zesco in December.

Lusaka Dynamos could move into third with a victory away at Red Arrows and keep up their hunt for qualification for the CAF club competitions, but Arrows are a tough nut at home.

No side has conceded fewer goals on their own patch (6) than Arrows this season and they are very difficult to beat in Lusaka.

Buildcon will also be targeting the top three as they visit bottom side Kitwe United, while Prison Leopards host Young Green Eagles.

Kabwe Warriors will play a first game since they sent coach Levy Chabala on administrative leave when they host Lumwana Radiants, who are struggling near the foot of the table but have been in improved form of late.

Former Lusaka Dynamos assistant coach Ian Bakala has been appointed to lead Warriors on an interim basis.

Power Dynamos welcome Nkwazi to the Arthur Davies Stadium in the final game on Saturday.

The focus will switch very much to the foot of the table on Sunday when defending champions Nkana FC desperately seek a win as they travel to Green Eagles.

Nkana are eight points from safety and look in real relegation trouble, even if they do have three games in hand on the teams above them.

NAPSA Stars are another surprise struggler, but they could move ahead of opponents Green Buffaloes and potentially out of the drop-zone with a win.

Both Nkana and Stars are now free of their CAF Confederation Cup commitments having been knocked out of the competition in the pool stages. They will hope that helps them improve their domestic form.