Ethiopia Nigd face Hawassa, Wolaitta target Dire Dawa

Ethiopia Nigd Bank otherwise known as CBE - Commercial Bank of Ethiopia hope to retain top spot when they face Hawassa City

Wolaitta Dicha and Dire Dawa City meet in the other fixture with both games at the Dire Dawa International Stadium.

Ethiopia Nigd Bank took over the leadership after the failings of Mekelakeya and St George last week, with Hawassa City in 10th place.

Ethiopia Nigd Bank have amassed 40 points, same as Mekelakeya but are at the top of the table with 17 goal differences ahead of their rivals with 8 goals difference.

St George in third position with 38 points meaning there is little room for errors.

Nigd Bank had not won in three consecutive matches before they beat Hambericho, scored only one goal in those matches, but in the 20th week, they netted five goals.

They will need their strikers to step up on the goalscoring stakes with only Addis Gidey, producing marginally with seven goals in the season.

The team's other attacking players have not scored as many goals as expected, but the players who came in as substitutes and scored goals in Hambericho Durame's match are expected to be another goal option for the coach.

Hawassa City returned to winning ways by defeating Shashemene City and Dire Dawa Kenema, but lost to Ethiopia Coffee after sharing points with Ethiopian Insurance in the last two league matches.

Hawassa City also seems to have little trouble scoring goals in the attack, scoring just the solitary goal in each the last 12 matches.

They have been unable to keep a cleansheet in 15 of the last 16 games.

They have conceded the most goals this season, next to bottom side, Hambericho Durame.

This is a source of concern for Hawassa Coach Zeray Iyassu with their opponents, Ethiopia Nigd Bank as the league's top