IN the ever-unpredictable landscape of the NBC Premier League, this afternoon offers a tantalizing encounter between Geita Gold FC and Mtibwa Sugar.

Set against the backdrop of Nyankumbu Stadium in Geita, this match is more than just a game- it is a narrative of survival, a relegation six-pointer.

Geita Gold FC is placed 14th on the log with 21 points from 21 matches. With nine games of the final run-in remaining, the hosts are now only adrift of safety on goal difference, while trailing their visitors by just five points in the fight to avoid the drop.

The statistics show Geita Gold FC has been struggling in recent home league matches. They have won only one of their last 5 league games on home soil. They have claimed 12 points from 11 home matches this season.

When you look at the head-to-head record, Geita Gold FC has failed to win any of the squad's previous five league games against Mtibwa Sugar, suffering three defeats in the process. Mtibwa Sugar won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in October.

However, having now regained confidence with a 2-1 victory over Championship League side Rhino Rangers in the CRDB Federation Cup last week, Geita Gold FC will look to make their recent improvement count in the afternoon and put another win on the board to move out of the drop zone.

Mtibwa Sugar remain at the foot of the NBC Premier League table and are staring down the barrel at demotion to the Championship League as they sit five points adrift of safety, although they do have a game in hand on three of the four teams above them, including today's opponents Geita Gold FC.

They head into their first league outing since early March to further strengthen their survival bid and finally leap out of the relegation zone in the run-in.

Mtibwa Sugar has enjoyed a handful of positive results in recent rounds, losing only one of the squad's previous five league encounters.

Following victories over Singida Fountain Gate FC and Tanzania Prisons in March, Mtibwa Sugar played out a goalless draw with Kagera Sugar in their last league outing three weeks ago, although they lost 3-0 to title contenders Azam FC in the CRDB Federation Cup last week.

Mtibwa Sugar’s away form is a cause for concern. They travel to the Lake Zone having accumulated the joint-fewest away points (five) in the Premier League this season as the visitors have managed to win just one of their last ten league outings on the road.

However, tactician Zubeir Katwila and co can be optimistic of success against an out-of-sorts Geita Gold FC, a club the former have defeated in each of their last two meetings by an aggregate score of 6-2.