Match day 21 in the Nigeria Professional Football League returns across 10 venues on Sunday.
Leaders Plateau United has a perfect opportunity to extend their lead at the summit when they play at home against Remo Stars; while FC Ifeanyi Ubah could stretch their unbeaten run to 8 games in a grudge home game against Kano Pillars.
Plateau United vs. Remo Stars
Plateau United take on Remo Stars at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos. The game pairs two teams at opposite ends of the table engage in what could be a one-sided encounter.
Plateau United enjoy a two point lead at the top of the league table, while Remo Stars occupies the last spot on the table, embarking on a four successive losing streak.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah vs. Kano Pillars
In-form team in the league FC Ifeanyi Ubah appear to be unstoppable at the moment. They will look to extend their unbeaten run to eight games when they host Kano Pillars.
The reverse fixture in Kano, which incidentally was the opening game of the league season, was marred with avoidable controversy after the FC Ifeanyi Ubah players staged a walkout of the game, for what they termed to be biased officiating.
After struggling for form and consistency, FC Ifeanyi Ubah are finally playing to their potentials. The Nnewi-based club has turned their home ground into a fortress and it should likely be the case on Sunday, against poor travellers Kano Pillars.
Seka Pascal is undoubtedly the most influential player for the Billionaire team. He has put in commanding performances and scored some important goals, home and away recently, which has propelled FC Ifeanyi Ubah into fourth place.
Lobi Stars vs. Shooting Stars
A defeat will not go down well with the Shooting Stars fans and management when they meet Lobi Stars at the Aper Aku Stadium.
In the aftermath of last week's home loss to FC Ifeanyi Ubah, the crowd protested against head coach Fatai Amoo, calling for his sack.
Shooting Stars has been desperately poor this season, not surprising to observers as the Ibadan-based club failed to sort out head coach issues until the eve of the league, also failing to recruit substantively ahead of the season, a situation which sees them lingering a spot above bottom place on the table.
Tony Okpotu and strike partner, Kingsley Eduwo appear to fancy games like this to do damage on their opponents in Makurdi. Homeboy, Okpotu netted a hat-trick for Lobi Stars in their last home game and he could extend his goal tally at the end of match proceedings.
Niger Tornadoes vs. MFM FC
The title winning credentials of MFM FC will be further put to test when they travel to Lokoja to play Niger Tornadoes.
The Lagos-based team endured a slow start to the second round of the league last weekend, when they were held to a frustrating goalless home draw against Akwa United, missing a host of opportunities including a penalty to win the game.
MFM FC task appears to be even made more difficult in the absence of their two star forwards, Stephen Odey and Sikiru Olatunbosun, both away on international duty with Nigeria in France.
Niger Tornadoes has done well this season on their adopted home ground, crushing formidable opposition that has come their way; hence they shouldn't lose sleep about MFM FC coming to town.
A win could see Niger Tornadoes move within touching distance of a spot outside the top four position, while the implication of an MFM FC loss is a drop to fourth place or even worse outside the top four if Enyimba convincingly wins away from home.
Akwa United vs. ABS FC
Impressive Akwa United could extend their unbeaten run to five games when they host ABS FC at the Godswill Akpabio international Stadium.
Experienced tactician Abdul Maikaba has done a great job with Akwa United this season after a difficult start to the campaign. Although, some might argue that given the resources and support he got from the club management, the results shouldn't have been otherwise.
In the absence of top scorer Alhassan Ibrahim who netted 10 league goals before linking up with the Super Eagles, Akwa United have the players to get the job done.
New boys Olorunleke Ojo and Harmony Ikande will likely make their home debut from the start in this game.
The away team has struggled for consistency after a blistering start to life in the top-flight. ABS FC can count on top scorer, Mohammed Mohammed to capitalise on any slack defending from the home team.
Ahead of the game, ABS has named teenage sensation Chidi Ogbodo in the match day squad. The 18-year-old who progressed through the club's feeder team is among a number of players coach Henry Makinwa has earmarked for top-flight experience.
"We are a young side with some talented young players. The future of this great club belongs to the youths and the process has started already.
"We are giving the young lads an opportunity to develop and I am happy some of them are responding.
"Against all odds, we played (Kehinde) Ayinde in our game against El-Kanemi Warriors and he scored," Makinwa said.
Despite the preparedness of ABS FC for this encounter, it does appear Akwa United should earn a convincing win as they push for a top four place.
El-Kanemi Warriors vs. Rivers United
The only team remaining with a perfect home record this season, El-Kanemi Warriors, have an opportunity to extend a winning run which dates back to April 2016 to 23 games, when they take on Rivers United.
The Port Harcourt-based team, Nigeria's sole representatives remaining on the continent this season, will be playing a third game in eight days after playing a CAF Confederation Cup game midweek.
Mathias Samuel, top scorer with 10 goals for El-Kanemi Warriors this season is a man who has made it a habit of scoring in home games with the majority of those strikes deciding matches.
Nasarawa United VS. Wikki Tourists
Federations Cup beaten finalists Nasarawa United hosts Wikki Tourists at the Lafia Township Stadium.
Nasarawa United has been pretty solid at home, though a few points have been dropped in the process, but notwithstanding the Solid Miners have done enough as they sit in 11th place on the table.
Wikki Tourists, after spending a worrying long period of time in the relegation zone finally earned a breather with a convincing home win last weekend against Abia Warriors, a result which took them out of the drop zone into 16th.
Abia Warriors vs. Enugu Rangers
The Umuahia Township Stadium will be agog, as champions Enugu Rangers comes to town for an oriental derby against Abia Warriors.
Abia Warriors were brought back to earth last weekend following a comprehensive 3-0 bashing they received in the hand of Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.
The Umuahia-based team enjoyed a steady run in the first round; luckily the heavy defeat didn't affect their top-half place.
After a nightmare start to the season for Enugu Rangers, coincidentally losing the first game of the season 2-1 at home to Abia Warriors, have parted company with title winning coach Imama Amapakabo.
They have bounced back in recent weeks embarking on a three game unbeaten run, which has taken them into 14th place on the table.
Rangers will feel confident coming into this game, considering they netted three goals on their last away trip to Gombe United. In all, the champions have netted nine goals in last five games, conceding eight in same number of games, keeping just a single clean.
Gombe United vs. Katsina United An interesting relegation battle takes place in Gombe, when Gombe United takes on Katsina United.
Gombe United in recent weeks have hugged the headlines for all the wrong reasons, beginning with a violent conclusion to their game against Enugu Rangers three weeks ago, followed by another routine away loss at Enugu against the champions.
Manu Garba, head coach of Gombe United was handed a three-game ultimatum by the club management a couple of weeks ago and this game could be determinant in the FIFA U17 world cup winning coach losing or keeping his job.
Away team, Katsina United is 15th on the table and they know an away loss will take them level on points with 18th place Gombe United, a situation they have to avoid, a relegation fight not a palatable one for the Willy Bazuaye coached team.
Sunshine Stars vs. Enyimba
Sunshine Stars undid all the good work last weekend, losing by a lone goal at home to Lobi Stars, an outcome which sparked violent reactions from the home support.
The Akure-based team this weekend hosts Enyimba, a team which secured a first away win of the season last weekend in neighbouring Sagamu against Remo Stars.
Incidentally, both coaches in opposition dugout have managed the pair of clubs.
Sunshine head coach, Austin Eguavoen who takes charge of his third league game was coach of Enyimba in 2008.
Gbenga Ogunbote of Enyimba was at the helm of coaching affairs at Sunshine Stars, a period which could be regarded as the best in the club's history, competing in both the CAF Confederation and Champions League.