Medeama SC will open their 2017/2018 Ghana Premier League account at the Tarkwa and Aboso park when they tackle new boys Karela United on Sunday in the first regional derby of the season.
The Mauves and Yellow are tipped to be among the top four finishing clubs following their display in the G8 pre-season tournament and GFA Gala even though they did not win it after all.
The 2015 FA Cup winners finished 9th on the league table last term. They have their eyes set on a top two finish at end of the campaign.
The farthest they have reached in a season is the 3rd place achieved in the 2010/2011.
With Evans Augustine Adotey departing as head coach of club, Samuel Boadu replaces him and this weekend's fixture is his first competitive outing.
Ali Ouattara Issouf, Bright Enchil, Kwame Boateng, Richard Boadu and Gideon Acquah are likely to make their first appearance for the Mauves and Yellow on Sunday.
Karela United FC will have to make a journey of about 124 kilometres from Nzema Aiyinasi to Tarkwa for their first ever Ghana Premier League fixture.
The fast growing club secured their promotion to the top-flight after winning Zone Two of the second tier league last season.
Nothing could be termed as a dream start to life in Ghana's elite club competition than picking all three points from the Tarkwa and Aboso park this weekend.
They held Medeama SC to a 0-0 draw in the last group game of the G8 pre-season tournament in Elmina.
Sampson Eduku scored 18 goals in 20 matches to propel the club to secure promotion last . He is no more with them along with last season's best player Benjamin Afutu Kotey.
The newbies have acquired Abdul Ganiu Ismail, Emmanuel Ocran, Maxwell Baako, Emmanuel Osei Baffour, Godfred Saka, Francis Adjei, Alhaji Sani, Isaac Kwain, Imoro Ibrahim and Michael Sai who have enough experience in the division.
MATCH FACTS
Head To Head
Total league meetings = 0
Medeama SC wins = 0
Drawn matches = 0
Karela United FC wins = 0
~ Madeama SC have recorded just one win out of their last six matches in the premier league.
(W1 D2 L3)
~ Karela United suffered only one defeat in their three clashes with top-flight sides in the G8 pre-season tournament.
(W1 D1 L1)
~ Medeama SC have been losers for just once in their last seven home games in the premier league.
(W4 D2 L1)
~ Karela United FC are visiting the Tarkwa and Aboso park for a premier league match for the first ever time.
~ Medeama SC have drawn all of their last three home fixtures against Western regional clubs. All against Sekondi Hasaacas.
(W0 D3 L0)
~ Karela United FC didn't concede in their clash with Medeama SC in the G8 tournament. The game ended scoreless.
~ Medeama SC have kept only three clean sheets out of their last nine home matches in the premier league.
By Nuhu Adams