A footballing fiesta beckons in Kwekwe this afternoon as giants Dynamos cross swords with high-flying league debutants Hardrock FC at their flamboyant Chahwanda Stadium for the very first time.
DeMbare, buoyed by a return to winning ways, head into the match looking to claim a massive scalp and close the gap on the pacesetters.
However, conquering Chahwanda is a mountainous task that few have mastered this season.
Hardrock’s home ground has quickly transformed into a graveyard for visiting teams. Out of the seven matches they have hosted at Chahwanda, the newcomers have plundered four wins and picked up two draws.
Only traditional giants Highlanders have managed to escape Kwekwe with maximum points, courtesy of a slender 1-0 victory recently.
It has been an incredible debut top-flight campaign for the outfit coming straight from Division One. After 13 matches, Hardrock find themselves flying high at the apex of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings with 27 points—tied with second-placed CAPS United.
For Dynamos, this season already represents a massive upgrade from the horrors of the previous campaign, where they only secured safety from relegation on the final day of the season.
After a blistering start to the current campaign, a frustrating six-match winless streak (four draws and two defeats) severely stalled their momentum. However, an emphatic 3-0 home demolition of Triangle last week breathed new life into the Glamour Boys.
Currently sitting in sixth place with 21 points, they trail the log leaders by six points. A win against the newcomers would firmly thrust Dynamos back into the championship conversation.
Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe is fully aware of the magnitude of the task ahead but insists his charges are ready to build on last week's commanding victory.
"We are preparing very well and we are also responding to the way we want to play our game plan," Mangombe said. "I mean, this is Hardrock. I know it's a very big game and we also want to get maximum points in this game. So we are trying our best."
Having closely monitored the league leaders, Mangombe praised Hardrock's squad but emphasised the need to guard against complacency after DeMbare's recent 3-0 win.
"Since we have been watching their matches, we know they have a strong squad and also they have good players,” he said.
“So they are also enjoying to be on top of the log and we will try by all means to make sure we play with caution and also try to psych up the boys... I think we need to also work on their psychological aspect in terms of complacency.
“We will try and make sure that we do this at training and we are ready to play versus Hardrock."
The tactical battle will also see Mangombe reunited with some familiar faces, including Hardrock's midfield maestro Munashe Bamara who he worked with at Triangle last year.
"I have worked with those guys, even Munashe Bamara. I know they are very good players and on a good day they can deliver," Mangombe added.
"So, we are also trying to match them and make sure that our midfield is strong so that we can cancel them out.
“So, we are also trying to do everything at training so that on a match day it will come up easily."
Will Hardrock maintain their fairytale run at the summit, or will Dynamos become only the second team to breach the Chahwanda fortress? All answers will be provided on the pitch this afternoon.