With the momentum clearly behind them, Phnom Penh Crown take on TriAsia at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow, focused on retaining their five-point lead in the Metfone C-League standings over their closest challengers, Boeung Ket Rubber Field.

Crown had it easy against Albirex Niigata last week, though the two goals that the bottom-of-the-table foreign franchise managed to sneak in should have given the four-time champions as many reasons to be more watchful of the much stronger TriAsia, who have ruffled quite a few illustrious feathers this season.

A victory would leave Crown in an impregnable position and – barring unthinkable horrors in the next set of games – will bestow them the title rights with something to spare.

In the day’s first fixture, Build Bright United will face Ministry of National Defence, who surprised several pundits by going down to Kirivong Sok Sen Chey last week.

Realistically, Crown’s only threat are Boeung Ket, though the Kampong Cham-based club are still five points adrift. The runners-up last year have been served a tough test at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday when they meet Asia Europe University, generally seen as the team that has been fighting the hardest this season.

Boeung Ket’s only hope of getting the winning numbers right will solely depend on how well the stars align in their favour. Whichever way the 2012 winners look at the equation, there are two paths that lead in the right direction.

One is for them to keep winning, which is attainable. The second, more implausible one is for Crown to stumble badly.

Two teams who are loitering at the wrong end of the standings, Western University and Albirex Niigata, will bring Sunday’s action to close.

Weekend Fixtures

At Olympic Stadium

Saturday June 28

BBU v MND – 3:30pm

PP Crown v TriAsia – 6pm

Sunday June 29

Boeung Ket v AEU – 3:30pm

Western University v

Albirex Niigata – 6pm