Champions Medeama take on league leaders FC Samartex 1996 in a lip-smacking encounter in the Western derby on Sunday. 

The champions have simply been piss-poor in their title defence as their unflattering season led to a 1-0 defeat at Accra Lions.

In fairness, the side have been knocked back by injuries to several star players including winger Derrick Fordjour, forward Nana Kofi Babil, midfielder Manuel Mantey and Jean Vital as well as captain Baba Musah Abdulai.

They are without a win in two matches having drawn goalless at home to Dreams FC and losing 1-0 in the capital.

Medeama managed to pick a point at the Nsenkyire Stadium enroute to their Premier League success last season but the scenario and dynamics are different this time around with two teams with contrasting fortunes.

Medeama are struggling while Samartex are flying high as they aim to win the Premier League title in just their second season.

Medeama’s failure to glean a point against Accra Lions, means Nebojsa Kapor’s side remain in 6th place with 33 points- 9 below their Sunday’s opponents in Aboi.

Medeama are out of the CAF Champions League and the Ghana FA Cup with the only source of a major silverware hanging on a thread.

With an electrifying atmosphere in Aboi, the two rivals are expected to produce a scintillating football for the fans.

The Timber giants will start as favourite against their regional rivals following a breathtaking campaign in the domestic top-flight.