IN this Friday evening’s NBC Premier League clash between Dodoma Jiji FC and Kinondoni Municipal Council FC, both teams are poised for a crucial encounter as they navigate their respective ambitions in the league.

Hosts Dodoma Jiji FC currently sits comfortably in the low-middle of the table, yet their NBC Premier League status remains unsecured, while Kinondoni Municipal Council FC is pushing for a top-four finish by garnering wins in the remaining rounds.

Dodoma Jiji FC enters the match, slated to start at 8:15 pm, on the back of back-to-back draws against JKT Tanzania and Kagera Sugar, signaling positive signs under head coach Francis Baraza.

This run of form keeps Dodoma Jiji FC, now sitting 10th, two points out of the drop zone with the advantage of two games in hand to teams below them in the table.

On top of that, the club will head into this fixture boasting an impressive form in the recent tradition of this match-up.

In seven top-flight league games between the two sides, Dodoma Jiji FC has won five. They are on a four-game winning streak against Kinondoni Municipal Council FC.

Dodoma Jiji FC's striking force made up of Hassan Mwaterema, Meshack Mwamita, and youngster Zidane Seleli will be tasked with sharing the goal-scoring burden.

The club's defenders Joram Mgeveke, Anderson Solomon, Augustion Nsata, Adeyun Saleh, and midfielder Gustapha Simon will further try to keep Kinondoni Municipal Council FC forwards at bay.

Kinondoni Municipal Council FC is coming into the match having recorded an excellent 1-0 win at Mtibwa Sugar last weekend.

It was the Kinondoni side's seventh win of the season. The victory at Mtibwa Sugar means Kinondoni Municipal Council FC is undefeated in their last three fixtures, all of which have been played in the league.

As the race for CAF Champions League qualification is heating, Kinondoni Municipal Council FC finds itself sitting fifth in the table – just one point behind fourth-placed Coastal Union each remaining with seven games to play.

March 5 was the last time that Abdihamid Moallin-coached Kinondoni Municipal Council FC tasted defeat, and maximum points will create a nice two-point cushion in the race for the top four as the league enters the homestretch.

The Kinondoni Councillors will pin their hopes of victory on their striker Waziri Junior.

The former Azam FC and Young Africans SC striker has gone two games without registering a goal since his hat-trick against Tabora United early last month.

Against Dodoma Jiji FC, he will be looking to remind his former bosses of his quality and also add to his 11 strikes in the race for the top goalscorer award.