League leaders and joint-form team in the Nigeria Professional Football League, Lobi Stars look good to consolidate their lead in an away north central derby in Lafia.
At the bottom, the duo of Sunshine Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors can swim out of the drop zone provided they secure home wins on matchday 13.
Lobi Stars look poised to extend their stay at the top of the league summit when they travel away to face Nasarawa United in the north central derby on Sunday.
The leaders are currently enjoying their best spell of the season, embarking on a three game winning sequence, amassing 10 points from their last five games.
They come up against a struggling Nasarawa side who only evade the bottom four on the strength of a superior goal difference.
For a team who previously lost a derby at home on the opening weekend, they could find it tough against an effective Lobi side that have recently killed off opponents with narrow score lines.
Kano Pillars face a stern test to regain the top position when they host a resurgent Niger Tornadoes on Monday in Kano. Tornadoes have found their groove in recent weeks after a tough spell.
Despite sitting in 10th-place, Tornadoes are only three points away from the dreaded relegation zone.
Can they show class against a formidable Pillars team who should be complemented by the return of Junior Lokosa?
Perhaps the prospect of capitalising on any potential slip-up by Lobi Stars is enough to inspire Kano Pillars to a convincing win in front of their fans.
El-Kanemi Warriors are presented with an opportunity to move out of the relegation zone when they welcome FC Ifeanyi Ubah to Maiduguri. The match serves as a return for Ladan Bosso, now in-charge of FC Ifeanyi Ubah to his old stomping ground.
A first win in four games puts the Warriors' season back on track, an outcome which could leave Ifeanyi Ubah winless in three successive games and thrown into the deep end of the bottom four.
Katsina United could end as high as eighth-place with a home win against Heartland. The Naze Millionaires were on the receiving end of a huge defeat at MFM FC, a result which sparked a bizarre reaction from coach Ramson Madu.
That could be a pointer of things to come for a Heartland team that have failed to win on the road since early February, and could come short against a side with a decent home record.
In other fixtures, managerless and relegation-threatened Sunshine Stars have a tricky job on their hands at home to Yobe Desert Stars.
The visitors aren't the most productive on the road, one point in five previous away games, an indication Sunshine could be in with a chance for a vital win.
Abia Warriors are favourites to earn some respite from the bottom half of the table when they welcome Wikki Tourists.
Wikki have lost all previous away games this season, and are not directly in danger of finishing in the relegation zone in the event of yet another loss on the road.