Close fights are on the cards as competing teams lock horns today in the early matches of the ninth round of the Eximbank V-League 2013 season.

Xuan Thanh Sai Gon will have a tough trip to Ninh Binh. Both teams won last week and distanced themselves from the bottom-ranked teams.

With only one more win, Ninh Binh will place in the top half of the table, while three points will help Xuan Thanh rise in the rankings.

In the other match of the day, Vicem Hai Phong will likely end its southern trip with three points in the encounter with Dong Tam Long An.

Hai Phong drew with dark-horses Dong Nai in an away game after leading by two goals, while Dong Tam had to leave Rach Gia empty-handed. — VNS