HIGHLANDERS have every reason to feel pumped up ahead of the Castle Lager Premiership football clash with bitter rivals Dynamos at Rufaro tomorrow.

The Bulawayo giants are expected to descend on the capital high in confidence following their remarkable transformation under the tutelage of Dutch coach Pieter Hendrik de Jongh. De Jongh is only but a month into the job, but he has given Bosso players the courage to express themselves and play without fear.

The results on the ground have given the Bosso family renewed hope after the club recovered from a difficult start this year, and are now aiming for a strong finish.

The clubs are tied on 39 points on the log standings, but Highlanders have a better goal difference in sixth place, while Dynamos are seventh.

De Jongh played Dynamos in his first match after he got clearance to work in Zimbabwe and managed a 1-0 win in the first round of the Chibuku Super Cup at Rufaro.

Fireworks are always expected every time the two teams play no matter their form. However, the clashes sometimes fail to live up to the billing.

Highlanders have dominated the league clashes between the country’s biggest teams in the last four years.

The Glamour Boys last beat Highlanders in open play in 2015 at Rufaro, thanks to a brace from Ronald Chitiyo and another goal from Qadr Amini, which dwarfed Knox Mtizwa’s double.

But since then, the clubs have met in eight league matches, with Highlanders winning five times and drawing twice.State media