BULAWAYO giants Highlanders, who have staggered from one defeat to another, make the trip to Harare on Wednesday for a clash against spirited Flame Lilly at Lafarge Stadium in Mabvuku.
Bosso have registered three wins, three defeats and one draw in the campaign to date and coach Bongani Mafu will be seeking to make amends and collect maximum points against the Premiership newcomers.
Highlanders are coming from a 1-0 defeat to Harare giants Caps United at the weekend.
And it is that spate of dreadful results which continues to worry the club hierarchy and their passionate fans.
The Harare game presents Mafu with a window of opportunity to show he is capable of leading Highlanders to the Promised Land as he faces Nesbert Saruchera’s Flame Lilly.
Even so, Mafu refuses to wear the favourites tag insisting it will be a difficult encounter.
“Flame Lilly are a premier league side and we are at the same level. We are all the same.
“We going to play this match like we are playing any other team in the premier league,” said Mafu.
Highlanders will be missing some of their key players including towering defender Teenage Hadebe, Mthulisi Maphosa, Douglas Sibanda and Njubulo Nyoni who are all on the treatment table.
Still, the Highlanders gaffer says the injury list will not be an excuse should Highlanders fall to Flame Lilly.
“We will miss them of course (injured) players but it will not be an excuse if we lose. We have enough depth,” he said.
Flame Lilly are coming from a drawn game against ZPC Kariba having shocked high flying Triangle 1-0 in the previous encounter- the latter’s only defeat of the campaign.
They are now fifth from the bottom with six points from seven matches having won one, drawn three and lost three.
Saruchera expressed confidence ahead of the encounter with Highlanders.
“We are in good form and will not be intimidated by anyone,” he said.
“We rely on a solid and disciplined defence but overall we play as a team. We can’t really single out some players. It’s all about team work.”
FIXTURES
Wednesday: Tsholotsho FC v Chapungu (White City Stadium), Harare City v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro Stadium), FC Platinum v How Mine (Mandava Stadium), Flame Lily v Highlanders (Lafarge Stadium), Dongo Sawmill v Buffaloes (Vhengere Stadium), Chicken Inn v Triangle United (Luveve Stadium)Advertisement

Thursday: Caps United v Hwange (National Sports Stadium) Whawha v Dynamos (Ascot Stadium)
Saturday: ZPC Kariba v Chicken Inn (Gwanzura Stadium), How Mine v Tsholotsho (Luveve Stadium), Chapungu v Dongo Sawmill (Ascot Stadium)
Sunday: Dynamos v FC Platinum ( Rufaro Stadium), Highlanders v Harare City (Barbourfields Stadium), Hwange v Flame Lily (Colliery Stadium), Triangle United v Whawha (Gibbo Stadium), Buffaloes v Caps United (Sakubva Stadium)