HCM CITY (VNS)— Home football teams will have their work cut out for them this weekend when they meet tough opponents in the eighth week of the Eximbank V-League 2013 season.

Kien Giang, which ranks second from the bottom this year with only two points, will take on eighth-placed Dong Tam Long An, whose confidence rose after its surprise 2-0 win over hosts Binh Duong last week.

In Pleiku City, Hoang Anh Gia Lai's second-place ranking could be on the line when they meet No 1 Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA).

SLNA, which has been unbeaten this season, will be a tough nut to crack for South Korean coach Choi Yun-kyum and his players, which hope to maintain their winning run.

Seventh-placed Dong Nai's unbeaten run at home will likely end today as Hai Phong, which is in fourth place, has the capability to leave Dong Nai stadium with three points.

Tomorrow, title candidate for the season Ha Noi T&T will visit last-place Binh Duong, which has had a disappointing season. The former two-time champions have gone from a title contender to a team with a real relegation risk.

Ninh Binh, experiencing a poor run, will come up against defending champions Da Nang.

Nguyen Van Sy's Ninh Binh team has managed just three draws in five recent games.

Football will return to Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City this weekend after a two-week lull.

The host team, Sai Gon Xuan Thanh, is not in form, losing two recent games to languish in 10th position, while Thanh Hoa has not had better results, drawing three of four games and currently ranked sixth. —VNS