Primeira Liga leaders Sporting Lisbon travel to the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques to face sixth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes on Saturday evening.
The visitors have set the early pace in Portugal's top flight, but know that there is little margin for error with rivals Benfica hot on their heels.
Match preview
© Reuters
Not since 2001-02 have Sporting Lisbon been crowned champions of Portugal - a longer wait than anyone expected for one of the nation's 'big three' clubs. However, their start to this season has raised hope that this could finally be their year.
Ruben Amorim's side are the only team still unbeaten in the top flight after six games, dropping only two points from the 18 on offer to get their noses in front of Benfica.
There is still a long way to go, of course, but Sporting have also scored the joint-most goals in the division this season and boast the best overall goal difference too - all signs which point to them being a match for the teams they finished behind last term.
A draw with champions Porto, whom they finished 22 points adrift of last season, accounts for their only dropped points so far, most recently sweeping Tondela aside with a 4-0 victory last weekend.
An exit from the Champions League in the qualifying stages also means that they only have domestic matters to focus on this season, which with such a congested fixture schedule could give them an edge over the likes of Benfica and Porto.
Guimaraes will certainly not be pushovers, though; they have picked up 10 points from their six games so far to sit level with Porto, albeit outside the European places due to their inferior goal difference.
A change of manager just three games into the campaign saw Joao Henriques take the reins from the short-lasting Tiago less than a month ago, and he has since led his new side to two wins and one loss.
There is certainly nothing wrong defensively - Guimaraes are the only team to have conceded fewer goals than Sporting this season, shipping only three in their six outings - but at the other end they have netted only four times.
Indeed, last week's 2-1 win at Gil Vicente was the first time this season that they have netted more than once in a game, and they have not managed that at home since June.
Saturday's hosts have only found the back of the net once in their three home games this term too, so hopes may not be too high for a free-scoring thriller this weekend.
Vitoria de Guimaraes Primeira Liga form: LDWWLW
Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form: WWDWWW
Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions): LWDWWW
Team News
© Reuters
Vitoria de Guimaraes
Out: Jorge Fernandes (suspended), Alhassan Wakaso (knee)
Doubtful: Lyle Foster (muscle), Matheus Mascarenhas (knee)
Sporting Lisbon
Out: Bruno Tabata (muscle), Vitorino Antunes (thigh)
We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 0-2 Sporting Lisbon
A match that pits the league's two best defences against each other is never likely to be too high scoring, but Sporting also boast the joint-best attacking record whereas Vitoria's threat at the other end is much blunter. We are expecting the leaders to pick up another three points here.
