KCCA and SC Villa will look to pounce on champions Vipers' opening-day slip when the StarTimes Uganda Premier League season gets underway at the weekend.
The Kasasiro Boys host NEC at Lugogo on Saturday in a repeat of the FUFA Super 8 final, which KCCA won 1-0 through Said Mayanja's penalty.
For NEC, revenge is on the cards but a decent start is also imperative if they are to challenge for this season's title.
The Buganda Region outfit begin life without Joseph Sseremba, who has been sold to Nairobi United, and it remains to be seen whether new acquisition Fahad Bayo will be fit to start.
KCCA have new signings Ibrahim Kasule, Yunus Sibira and Charles Lwanga to look for goals.
At Wankulukuku, record 17-time champions SC Villa welcome Kitara in the repeat of the Super 8 third-place play-off which finished goalless before the Jogoos won on penalties.
This will be a different task and Wasswa Bbosa will hope to use the game as a trial for the CAF Confederation Cup tie against Mogadishu City.
Elsewhere, league newcomers Blacks Power and Ntugasaze face off at Hoima City Stadium, Lugazi host Kigezi Home Boyz, Mbarara City are away to Police, while Kataka take on UPDF at Bukedea.
The argument doing the rounds in Kampala is whether KCCA's new-look front line can carry them past a wounded NEC side, and whether Bbosa's Jogoos have shaken off last season's disappointments in time for the Kitara test.
Opening day fixtures
- Saturday Aug 29: KCCA vs NEC (Lugogo), SC Villa vs Kitara (Wankulukuku), Blacks Power vs Ntugasaze (Hoima City Stadium), Lugazi vs Kigezi Home Boyz, Police vs Mbarara City, Kataka vs UPDF (Bukedea)
- Sunday Aug 30: fixtures to be confirmed
Betting angle
KCCA and SC Villa are the bookmakers' favourites to take all three points at home, with NEC and Kitara priced as the value picks to upset the giants on the road. Check the latest odds on ChampionBet.ug.
Watch the Highlights
Source: Uganda Premier League
