Forest Rangers are 9th with 9 points and will go fifth with a win in this encounter though they will make up the points that ZANACO on fourth have but the challenge of goal different makes difficult to leapfrog ZANACO into fourth. They will have to beat ZESCO 7-0 to go above Sensational ZANACO. It does not look possible.

Zesco United will themselves be looking for a victory to get them to same points with leaders Green Buffaloes. They go top if they get a difference of two goals score line. Anything less will still keep Green Buffaloes at the summit of the Super League table.

Forest Rangers is ranked 13th away team with only three points from the possible nine away so far. Lost once to ZANACO and the other counted loss is from the shadow game that they handed over three points to Nkana after refusing to honor the rescheduled week 20 encounter .
In contrast, ZESCO are yet to lose any encounter and at home, they have played two games, which is counted as one win and one draw.

PAST HEAD TO HEAD
From 2006, these two teams have met 20 times with Zesco United winning 9 while Forest Rangers have gotten 4 wins. The other 7 have been draws. The highest score line in this tie is still recorded at 4-0 while there is another 4-1 with both wins accredited to Zesco United. The latest was on 12th May 2013 with a brace from Winstone Kalengo and one each from Mabyin Mwaba and Kangwa Chileshe. The 4-1 victory was in 2010.

MOST RECENT
The two teams shared victories last season with home teams losing in both encounters. In 2016, the results were also shared with victories but then the interesting scenario was home teams won the games. The last stalemate between these sides was in 2015 but the other game ended in a victory for Forest Rangers.

ODDS
So then Forest Rangers have competed favorably recently and they will not be an easy side to break in this tie. However, I will go for a home victory but it will be close. Very close.

MY PREDICTION: Zesco United 2-1 Forest Rangers