Harare — LEO KURAUZVIONE facing Dynamos, Gift Lunga playing against Highlanders and Patrick Mandizha taking on his former Shabanie teammates -- it's a crazy Premiership campaign this year.

If all goes well Kevin Mushangazhike might even play for Dynamos in a short-term deal. The Glamour Boys have also acquired exciting Sundowns winger Elson Phiri on a season's loan in a deal confirmed by the Bulawayo side's officials yesterday. After all the acquisitions, movements and preparations, it all gets underway tomorrow when the 2006 Premiership season swings into life. The Dynamos/Shooting Stars showdown at Rufaro on Sunday is clearly the pick of the crop on the opening weekend of the Premiership campaign. But the other teams will be out to make a quick statement about their potential to win the biggest prize on the domestic football scene.

Former champions Rhinos finished the season strongly and have bolstered their squad by acquiring Patrick Mandizha from Shabanie while prodigal son Rowan Nenzou has returned home after a two-year stint at Maglas. The army side saved their best for last, last year when they played some brilliant football, which was instrumental in th eir battle for survival. They still have the lethal striker Kastigu Juwakinyu, a promising forward who could be one of the star players this season.

Rhinos open their campaign against a Buymore side that has roped in a new coach -- Rahman Gumbo. Buymore have added steel to their rearguard with the arrival of veteran defender Lenny Gwata -- a natural replacement for James Matola. Motor Action will start the new season with a home clash against Monomotapa at Callies. The Mighty Bulls blew a great chance to challenge for the league title when they crumbled in the later stages of the campaign last year. Monomotapa are another club that collapsed after a good start and they have a good squad on paper. They brought in Warriors defender Hebert Dick who is set to form a formidable central defensive partnership with one of the most promising defenders in the league, Luckmore Simango. They have Sageby Sandaka to add to their impressive options upfront.

Monomotapa also beat champions CAPS United to the signature of highly rated striker Takesure Chinyama and Edmore Chitato from Hwange. Shabanie Mine have been very quiet in the off-season. If anything, they have been losing players at an alarming rate. The mass exodus of players at the club could prove to be a disaster and there is an apparent lack of interest from the club's management to raise the club's standards.

Shabanie lost midfielders Rowan Nenzou, Clarkson Dzimbiri, Patrick Mandizha, striker Albert Mbano and defender Method Mwanjali during the off-season. Shabanie new coach Tavaka Gumbo could have a tough battle ahead of him, which starts this weekend when Hwange comes to town. Hwange are an unpredictable lot and despite losing two of their most reliable players -- Chinyama and Chitato -- they are likely to prove stubborn opponents. It has become part of their life to lose their good players every season but they have a way of fighting such adversity. The clash between Mwana Africa and Masvingo Uni ted at the National Sports Stadium will be another interesting one.

While Masvingo improved last season, Mwana Africa have shown their determination to build a profile in the league by the acquisition of a number of experienced players. They have also brought in Warriors assistant coach Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo to bolster their technical team that will have Arthur Tutani as the head coach. So much will be expected when the season swings into life tomorrow.

Fixtures Tomorrow: Motor Action v Monomotapa (Callies); Buymore v Black Rhinos (Rufaro). Sunday: *Zimbabwe Saints v CAPS United (Barbourfields); Dynamos v Shooting Stars (Rufaro); Lancashire Steel v Railstars (Baghdad); Chapungu v Highlanders (Ascot); Shabanie Mine v Hwange (Maglas); Mwana Africa v Masvingo (NSS). *Match subject to change owing to CAPS' travel problems.