HARARE - The intense fight for the Castle Premiership crown between log-leaders Dynamos and second-placed Highlanders has stolen the limelight from the equally frenzied battle for survival at the log’s basement.

With Quelaton’s drop to the lower division now confirmed, five other clubs are still enmeshed in a relegation scrap which is proving to be as intriguing as the title race itself.

Hwange, Blue Rangers, Black Mambas, Gunners and Hardbody are left with just two games to
negotiate their way from the dreaded drop to Division One.

After ending last season on fourth position, which earned them a ticket to represent Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederations Cup, many expected Hwange to challenge for this year’s Premiership title.

Two games before the end of the season, the coal miners find themselves in perilous waters. They are sixth from the bottom with 30 points, just seven points more than Hardbody who are second from the bottom.

With Black Mambas and 2009 Zimbabwe champions Gunners just two points below, Chipangano have to get positive results in their last two games. The coalminers play equally relegation-threatened Blue Rangers at home on November 14 before signing off their 2012 season with a clash against relegated Quelaton.

Hwange should be optimistic about their survival chances given the calibre of their last two opponents.

Police side Black Mambas, who are on 28 points and have lost their last two Premiership games, could drop into the second-tier league if they stumble in their two games while the teams below them post favourable results.

Warumwa Warumwa begin their survival quest on November 14 against fellow relegation battlers Hardbody before taking on FC Platinum four days later.

Gunners have won their last two games to boost their survival chances that looked very bleak a couple of weeks ago.

Moses Chunga, a reputed saviour of relegation teams in recent years, has to inspire his team to victory over Motor Action away and high-flying Chicken Inn at home.

Rangers, who are third from the bottom with 25 points, are pinning their survival chances on getting maximum points in the last two games while hoping that fellow relegation battlers will drop points.

Partson Ndabambi’s men face two tricky opponents in Hwange, whom they face away and title hopefuls Highlanders on the last day of the 2012 Premiership programme.

Second-from-the-bottom Hardbody, with their paltry 23 points, still have a faint mathematical chance of escaping relegation.

They clash with Mambas and title favourites Dynamos in their remaining matches.