With Phnom Penh Crown and Boeung Ket Angkor pulling well ahead of the rest of the field at the top of the standings, the fight intensifies in the next couple of weeks for the other two vital spots in the four-team championship playoff that follows at the end of the double round Metfone C League phase.

While the frontrunners will be keen to dictate the tempo of the pace, there are at least five teams in the mix battling hard for places in the title bracket, and all of them will be in action in the midweek matches, jockeying for better positions

The teams in the lower rungs of the table will also be anxious to avoid the grim prospect of the drop.

None are more troubled than Kirivong Sok Sen Chey, who despite winning their last two matches are at the foot of the table with 11 points, two behind Western Phnom Penh, who in turn are one point behind Asia Europe United and Cambodian Mines Action Center.

So each one these four teams will be looking for positive results to keep alive their chances of remaining in the premier league.

In today’s evening fixture at the Olympic Stadium, five-time champions Crown will square off against Build Bright United, who have suffered a slight dip in form going into this fixture after their 2-3 win over Boeung Ket on September 17.

Crown’s recent double digit wins are proof of their enormous strike power and BBU may have a tough time dealing with their potency.

At the Old Stadium, Kirivong Sok Sen Chey, who seemingly have fitted themselves with a new set of springs in their heels, take on Svay Rieng in a key contest where either side will not be satisfied with anything less than the full set of three points.

A victory for Kirivong is as important for them to climb out of the relegation zone as it is vital for Svay Rieng to keep gunning for a playoff place.

Something similar is the make-up of the day’s other clash at the Western Stadium between hosts Western, who are faced with relegation fears and National Police, who are clustered with Ministry of National Defence and Nagaworld in a three-way tie for third in the standings.

The Police may well be eager to strengthen their position ahead of tomorrow’s much anticipated match between MND and Nagaworld, both of whom scored notable wins at the weekend.

Cambodian Tiger will have to pick themselves up after back-to-back defeats in recent days dragged them down in the standings.

They face Asia Europe United, who are now fourth from the bottom and need a result to give them a lifeline Last Saturday’s grand show by Khoun Laboravy has kept Boeung Ket bouyant as joint leaders with Crown, and they take to the pitch against debutants Cambodia Mines Actions Center, who are currently third bottom of the table.

Today

Western Phnom Penh v National Police, @ Western Stadium, 3.30pm

Kirivong Sok Sen Chey v Svay Rieng, @ Old Stadium, 3.30pm

Build Bright United v Phnom Penh Crown, @ Olympic Stadium, 6pm

Tomorrow

MND v Nagaworld, @ Old Stadium, 3.30pm

CMAC v Boeung Ket Angkor,

@ Olympic Stadium, 3.30pm

AEU v Cambodian Tiger, @ Olympic Stadium, 6pm