Vipers continue their quest for a first Cecafa Kagame Cup title when they take on regional giants APR in their final group game at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Thursday evening.
The reigning Uganda Premier League champions are in pole position to reach the semifinals and need just a point to finish top of Group A.
The Venoms started their campaign with a 3-0 thrashing of Djibouti side Garde Republicaine before edging Kenyan side Gor Mahia 1-0 on Monday.
The results left the Venoms top of Group A with 6 points, while Gor Mahia are second with three points, and ahead of APR FC with a better goal difference.
The group winners from the three groups at the competition earn direct tickets to the semifinals alongside the best second placed side from the three groups.
“The game will be difficult because the opponent needs to win to have a chance to reach the semifinal. They want to press up and have to score many goals to reach the semifinals but we are ready and motivated and want to do the best and win this game because we need a draw to finish first but the better way to finish first is to win but it’s not easy so we have to fight like we fight against Gor Mahia in the last game,” Vipers coach Denis Lavagne said before the game.
The Frenchman who is handling his first assignment after being appointed is expected to ring more changes to a deep squad that has not yet required the services of returning star striker Caesar Manzoki.
In his absence, Lavagne still made six changes to the team that started the first game with substitute Gusto Mulongo coming up clutch for the Venoms against Gor Mahia with a fine header to seal a 1-0 win deep into added time.
Another returning star boy, Farouk Miya hogged the headlines with a brace in the opening game against Garde Republicaine with Karim Watambala adding the third in a dominant first half display.
They now play an APR side whose midfield is expected to be marshaled by former SC Villa captain Ronald Ssekiganda with another former Villa attacker Hakim Kiwanuka also on the club books.
The host side are desperate to avoid an early exit after a slow start saw them suffer a surprise 5-0 loss to Gor Mahia in the first game before dispatching Garde Republicaine 3-1.
A big win on Thursday will however lift them level on six points with Vipers with APR also expected to reach that tally with a win over whipping boys Garde Republicaine in a three-way fight for the semifinals.