In-form Mutondo Stars stand in the way of Red Arrows’ quest to sneak into second in the log when the two teams meet at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka this afternoon. 

The former champions have endured an inconsistent season but will be looking to finish the first round on a high when they face the ‘Evergreen’ Mutondo Stars. 

Mutondo are on a run of three wins and one draw; should they make it a fourth win in a row, they will deny Arrows a chance to move into second on the log. 

Chisi Mbewe’s men are third on the log with 26 points, one behind Nkwazi, who are out of action until tomorrow.

Mbewe has declared his team ready. 

“The team looks ready for Mutondo Stars; the team is boosted with the return of Ricky Banda and Chitiya Mususu,” Mbewe said in a pre-match interview yesterday.

Mutondo are not a pushover. In the last three games, they have seen off Zanaco, Kabwe Warriors, and Kansanshi Dynamos. 

“It is a different game; we cannot go into the game thinking we have won it,” Saileti said. “It will be a tough game.”

A win for Mutondo will push them to 27 points, at par with second-placed Nkwazi.