Derby magic for Moscow

Top two seek wins 
Following FC Spartak Moscow's 2-1 victory against FC Torpedo Moscow on Friday, the top two can restore their five-point advantage over the defending champions. CSKA travel to FC Saturn Ramenskoye while Lokomotiv take on Dinamo Moscow.

Derby days 
Remarkably, the fixture list has brought together the six clubs from the Moscow area. Just as notable is the fact that five of them occupy the top five positions in the table, the exception being ninth-placed Dinamo.

Stadium switch 
However, Lokomotiv's hopes of consolidating the No1 slot are dented by a late change of venue. With the Lokomotiv stadium unavailable, the game will take place at Dinamo. The latter club have a new coach in Viktor Prokopenko, late of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, who took charge in time to oversee last week's 5-0 defeat of FC Rostselmash Rostov-Na-Donu. Prokopenko is without key players in defender Mikhail Zharinov and suspended midfielder Ognen Koroman but said: "We can win if we show the right discipline and determination."

Goalkeeper blow 
Meanwhile, Lokomotiv have a full squad to choose from, although there will be a question mark against the state of mind of goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov. He has been told that he will not be in Oleg Romantsev's national squad for the FIFA World Cup finals.

Satellite trip for CSKA 
Over in the satellite town of Ramenskoye, CSKA will want to make amends for their 3-3 draw against Uralan Elista last time out. But Valery Gazzaev's men - level on 14 points with Lokomotiv but with a better goals-for column - meet a Saturn side riding high in fourth place.