By NDINAWE SIMPELWE –

•Zanaco forward Aubrey Funga shields the ball from a combative Gift Wamundila of Nakambala Leopards in a league match played at the weekend. Picture by Gwen Chipasula

CHAMPIONS Zesco United will today go top of the MTN-FAZ premier division for the first time this year if they beat Forest Rangers in a Ndola derby on a day that Zanaco will be hoping to keep their 100 per cent winning start to the season.
In  all, three rescheduled league game will be played today with Green Buffaloes also in action in the race to keep in touch with the leaders.
Forest vs Zesco
Veteran coach Patrick Phiri announces his arrival at Forest Rangers with a tough task of getting a positive result against his new team’s town rivals at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium which is home for both sides.
It will be the first time Phiri will be in charge of Forest following his decision to ditch Nakambala Leopards to join the Ndola based side on a two-year contract, and while he admitted Forest is desperate for a win, the task to beat Zesco is a daunting one.
Phiri admits he would have loved to start his job at Forest against a weaker opposition, but quickly hinted there were no pushovers in the league.
“Definitely Zesco is a very big team. They have done Zambia proud, they have qualified for the last eight in the Champions league. But tomorrow we are not playing the Champions League, it is a local league match. Forest has only managed to win once. So we are desperate for a win. I know Zesco are good, but football is 11 against 11,” he said.
Zesco coach George Lwandamina is confident his side is experienced enough to bounce back from two consecutive draws and pick a win today which will see them go top of the table with 20 points, one better than current leaders Nkana.
Lwandamina said he was not bothered with the two draws against Lumwana Radiants and Kabwe Warriors, but was instead concentrating on the positives of the team.
Zesco will rely on Jesse-Jackson Were, who has scored eight goals so far, and his strike partner Idris Mbombo, who returned from injury last weekend against former side Kabwe Warriors.
Zanaco vs Power
Zanaco’s impressive start to the season comes under serious check when Power visit Sunset Stadium today in a delayed Week-Four tie.
The bankers have managed five wins out of five this term to close the gap on leaders Nkana to four points and a win today will see the lead reduced to one and possibly go second should Zesco fail to beat Forest.
Power are trying to find their feet after a stuttering start to the season where they have won four and lost three in the eight matches played, which leaves them in fifth place with 13 points.
The pressure finally got the better of  the Power executive which led to sacking of head coach Tenant Chilumba and leave his assistant Anderson Phiri in charge.
Phiri did not disappoint on his first assignment when he beat Nkwazi at home last weekend and will be determined to repeat the act today.
Buffaloes vs Blackpool
Green Buffaloes have a chance to consolidate fourth position when they face bottom placed Blackpool in a Week-Two rescheduled fixture at Independence Stadium.
The task looks simple on paper as Blackpool are yet to win any match this season having lost four and drawn four from their eight matches, allowing 13 goals in the process.
Buffaloes have grown from strength to strength and this should be a routine win for the Bilton Musonda led side.