WHEN two elephants are fighting the grass suffers so goes the English maxim.
The turf at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola will be on the trampled upon on Saturday when Zesco United face Nkana in a Super Division Week 20 match.
Zesco are top of the log with 40 points, 15 better than ninth placed Nkana.
Zesco are still waiting for the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) disciplinary committee from the abandoned Week 19 match against ‘Mighty’ Mufulira Wanderers.
Wanderer’s fans threw stones on the pitch after Winston Kalengo scored at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira causing the abandonment of the match.
This year, the teams have met twice in Kitwe with Zesco winning one while the other ended in a virgin draw.
Zesco beat Nkana 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time during the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield semi-finals at Arthur Davies Stadium while the Week Five match at Nkana Stadium ended in a goalless draw.
Since 2004, Zesco have not lost to Nkana.
Last season, Zesco beat Nkana 1-0 in a league match in Kitwe, 3-0 in Ndola and went on to thump the legendary side 3-0 in the Barclays Cup final.
Zesco coach George Lwandamina will assemble his best 11 to ensure victory.
Skipper Jacob Banda will be in goal, Simon Silwimba, Ayo Aluwafemi, Dauti Musekwa and David Odhiambo will lineup in defence.
Matthews Chaila, Kondwani Mtonga, Cletus Chama and Mwape Mwelwa will plot Nkana’s downfall in midfield.
Lwandamina also has other options in midfield in Maybin Mwaba, John Ching’andu and Mathews Nkowane.
Kalengo and Jackson Mwanza will be tasked with the responsibility of banging in goals.
The two strikers have a good scoring record against Nkana.
But Nkana have a bone to chew with Zesco.
Having not been beaten Zesco since 2004, Nkana featuring veteran Joseph Musonda, Joseph Sitali, Simon Bwalya, Walter Bwalya and Jimmy Ndhlovu will take the game to Zesco.
The fans should brace for an entertaining match.
In an early kick off at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Forest Rangers take on Napsa Stars.