Leaders Hearts of Oak can give their title winning campaign a shot in the arm if they beat disheveled champions AshantiGold in Accra on Wednesday.
The Phobians eked out a 1-1 result with arch-rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko last Sunday in the Ghana Premier League derby and are in top shape.
AshantiGold have had a season to forget after the very highest highs of last season but their only objective at this time is to avoid the drop.
The Miners are placed 11th on the league log and they are 13 points behind the league leaders, Hearts, going into match-day 22.
They have dropped a lot of points this season but they are amongst one of the toughest teams to beat this having lost only four times though majority of their games have ended in draws.
Coach Sergio Traguil's side will have to come all out against the Miners, who have nothing to lose going into this fixture, and will largely setup to defend deep from the start.
In the first round, a double from Cosmos Dauda, in a 1-2 win, helped Hearts to a first win over the Miners at the Len Clay in close to a decade, but Ashgold will be aiming to spook Hearts’ run at the title.
Hearts coach Sergio Traguil insists his side are ready to continue their unbeaten league run in the second round, but says he will need full support from the fans for his side to achieve victory in midweek.
“We will be ready for the game,” he said in his pre-match interview. “I am sure of that. The players are mentally, physically, tactically and technically ready for the Ashgold match. So we will be ready and I hope that the supporters will come to the stadium on Wednesday to support us [to victory]”.
MATCH FACTS:
The two teams have met 41 times since the inception of the Professional League in 1993.
Hearts lead with 18 wins in this fixture whilst Ashantigold have won 13 times, and 10 games have ended in a draw.
76 goals have been scored between the two sides; Hearts have scored 43 goals whilst Ashgold have converted 33 times.
The Phobians have 12 times at home in the period against the Miners.
TEAM NEWS:
Cosmos Dauda has returned to training and will be looking forward to getting back into the team after missing the Kotoko match.
Richard Yamoah also awaits his first taste of action having been on the bench in the last two matches.
Hearts have no major injury concern going into this game.