MTN Heathens' 81-0 win over Rhinos on Saturday coupled with Dmark Kobs' 37-21 victory against Mongers in Entebbe ensured that the fight would be a two-horse race. For one, the emphatic clobbering Rhinos endured effectively erased the tag of 'surprise package' after their impressive first three games in which they shocked G4S Pirates on top of pushing Kobs to the limit.

If anything, Heathens sent out a loud signal of intent to win an unprecedented fifth straight league title. In four games, the 'Yellow Machine' average a staggering 72 points and have secured a bonus point in all those games. Heathens skipper Alex Mubiru says the writing is on the wall: "Rhinos have been playing well and knocking around people; so, we had to send a message".

Up next for Heathens is Buffaloes on Saturday, followed by Pirates before ending the first round against Kobs in a match that could determine who finishes top.

Heathens prop Denis Mugambe says: "We are taking every game like a final, and we will continue to be psyched up."

Meanwhile, Kobs' win at Mongers' 'House of pain' could all but have erased any chances of an away defeat. All this means that barring an upset, the league title is set to be decided by the results in the two fixtures between Heathens and Kobs.

To imagine such a scenario this early in the season not only exposes the gulf between the top two and the rest, it could also reflect on the below-par performance of the national team, given the lack of stiff competition in the league.