Highlanders, still smarting from losing the BancABC Sup8r Cup to Motor Action last Saturday, entertain problematic debutants Blue Ribbon in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
City neighbours Zimbabwe Saints travel to Harare for a date with giants Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium desperate for three points to escape relegation.
Highlanders have gone for four matches without a win, with their last being the 1-0 victory over Premiership contenders FC Platinum at Emagumeni in a mid-week clash on August 17.
After beating the “Moneybags”, Highlanders lost 1-0 to log-leaders Motor Action in Harare before they were held to a 1-1 draw by neighbours Chicken Inn at Barbourfields.
The Mkhuphali “Mr Cooper” Masuku-coached Bosso suffered another 3-1 defeat to a resurgent Caps United in Harare before yielding to the Mighty Bulls.
Premiership new boys Blue Ribbon, coached by Misheck Chidzambwa, are a tricky outfit who have claimed the scalps of big guns in the 2011 season, beating Highlanders 2-1 in the first half of the season on May 15.
They completed a double over Dynamos beating them 2-1 on June 12 before edging them 1-0 on August 2.
“Tambawaguta” beat Caps United 2-0 on April 20 and the two are yet to meet in the reverse fixture. It is going to be a tricky tie for Mr Cooper, who goes into tomorrow’s match with a depleted side that will be missing defenders Lawson Nkomo and Bruce Tshuma and midfielder Eric Mudzingwa due to suspensions.
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Last Saturday, Mr Cooper experimented with attacking midfielder Bruce Kangwa whom he played on the leftback position with veteran Gift Lunga sitting it out on the bench and the former had a terrible afternoon.
Young Warren Dube, brought to Highlanders from Division One side New West City, also featured in his debut for Bosso in the centre.
He had a few touches, but fizzled out prematurely before he was substituted in the second half.
The Highlanders camp has Vincent Nzombe and Graham Ncube upfront, Simon Munawa, Louis Matawu, Rahman Kutsanzira and Arnold Tshuma and twin centre-backs captain Gilbert Banda and Innocent Mapuranga, who have not let the team down since the beginning of the season.
When the two defenders have ventured upfront, they have registered goals for the Bulawayo giants.
Blue Ribbon have in their ranks James Jam, Tineyi Chitora and Mario Mabhacho, who could do damage to Highlanders.
The duo of the uncompromising former Dynamos left-back Brighton Tuwaya and Crispen Dickson will probably be at the heart of the Tambawaguta defence.
Blue Ribbon are perched on position eight on the log table and have a chance to move to sixth position if they win and Gunners lose to Masvingo and Chicken Inn to Motor Action.
Young Warriors manager Eddie Chivero has promised all the Saints players $200 each to beat Dynamos while the technical team will get $300 each.
Zimbabwe Saints are second from bottom on the log with 20 points while Dynamos are in third position with 39 points, three behind the leading pair of Motor Action and FC Platinum.
