Newly-promoted Rukh Brest play host to FC Minsk at the Yunost Stadium on Saturday afternoon looking to end a run of three matches without a victory.
The visitors find themselves in a similar predicament, having lost their last two matches after a promising start to the campaign.
Match preview
Despite having earned successive promotions to secure a spot in the Belarus top flight for the first time in their history, everyone associated with Rukh Brest would have been realistic about their prospects this season.
However, after getting the better of Dinamo Minsk on matchday one, expectations naturally increased ahead of hosting Energetik-BGU in their first-ever home fixture in the Premier Division.
While a 1-0 defeat was disappointing on the day, their opponents from that occasion now sit in second position, suggesting that some perspective can now be taken from that showing.
The same can be said of losing by the same margin to champions BATE and registering a goalless draw with fourth-placed team Slavia Mozyr - results which further indicate that Aleksandr Sednyov's team can have an impact this season if their maintain their current performance levels.
Although goals have been a problem for Brest, FC Minsk had no such issue during the opening two weeks as they netted three goals apiece in their first two games.
However, their form has dropped off with a 2-0 setback being suffered at Energetik before being comprehensively beaten by BATE in front of their own supporters last weekend.
Again, perspective should be taken with their two defeats coming against reputable opposition, but Andrey Razin will acknowledge that his players face another significant test on Saturday.
Former Belarus international Uladzimir Khvashchynski netted in each of the opening two matches, and Razin will want to see the experienced frontman return to form against one of the best backlines in the league.
Although Minsk currently sit three places clear of Brest, the home side will move ahead of them if they record all three points.
Rukh Brest form: WLLD
FC Minsk form: WWLL
Head To Head
As a result of Brest progressing through the league pyramid in recent years, these two teams will be meeting for the first time in a top-flight match.
We say: Rukh Brest 1-1 FC Minsk
Despite Minsk's goalscoring exploits in recent games, Brest's defensive record must be taken into account when predicting how this game could go. With that in mind, we feel that the home side will be able to earn a share of the spoils in a hard-fought contest.
Darren Plant
