Weekend Preview 22-23 September

TPL
(Saturday)
Pattaya v BBCU
Wuachon v Buriram Utd
Chonburi v Army
Muangthong Utd v Osotspa Saraburi

(Sunday)
Chiang Rai Utd v TOT
TTM v Chainat
Samut Songkhram v Bangkok Glass
BEC Tero v Thai Port
Police Utd v Esan Utd

Police United begin a string of seven home games with the visit of Esan Utd kicking things off. It's been well documented that their Thammasart Stadium was unavailable for months after the flood, but rather than seek an alternative home venue, the TPL allowed Police to switch fixtures which is why we have this unparalleled fixture list.
Most pundits will be tipping Police to beat the drop with Thai Port, BBCU and TTM making the plunge into Division 1. Another side firmly enveloped in the relegation dogfight, Chainat, travel to Chiang Mai and need three points at TTM to move onto the 30 point mark. Thai Port make the crosstown trip to BEC Tero while BBCU travel to Nong Prue to face Pattaya. The Dolphin's Ludo has been on a rich vein of scoring form netting five goals in his last three games.

At the top, Muangthong must recover from their first set back of the season as they were ousted from the league cup by TOT on Wednesday. They take on an unpredictable Osotspa who'll be aiming to twist the knife into the league leader's wounded pride.
Chonburi also have a chance to put their midweek AFC Cup disappointments to bed as they welcome Army Utd while Buriram's trip to Songkla will see them face a weakened Wuachon who have several Buriram loanees on their books.

Chiang Rai Utd would move above TOT if they can beat them at the United Stadium while Samut Songkhram would just about book their TPL status for 2013 if they collect three points at home to Bangkok Glass.
 
Division 1
(Saturday)
Phatthalung v Ratchaburi
Sriracha v Chantaburi
Suphanburi v Siam Navy
Khon Kaen v Krabi
Bangkok Utd v PTT Rayong

(Sunday)
Raj Pracha v JW Rangsit
Bangkok FC v Air Force Utd
Saraburi v FC Phuket
Korat v Songkla

PTT Rayong's season hinges on their trip to Bangkok United this weekend. A loss in Din Daeng would leave them 9 points behind the Bangkok Angels and a possible 7 behind Suphanburi should they beat Siam Navy as expected. The curse of the Thai-Yeepun has long since vanished with United currently on a four game winning streak at home.
Fourth placed Sriracha can play their wild card this week with the visit of Chantaburi. The Hares have already bitten the dust and they'll be joined by Raj Pracha and JW Rangsit very shortly. That leaves a possible two from six to complete the quintet of sides demoted to the regional leagues.
Rumblings from the south indicate that Songkla FC will vanish into thin air should they be relegated and will possibly reappear as Songkla United in the TPL via the aid of a fighting bull originally from Buriram. This Sunday, Songkla make the long trip up to Korat with the clock on their 13 year existence slowly whittling down.
The other five teams in the mire are Saraburi, FC Phuket, Phatthalung, Khon Kaen and Bangkok FC. The form book says Saraburi should beat FC Phuket while Bangkok FC and Khon Kaen host mid-table opposition. Phatthalung have the most difficult task as they welcome high flying Ratchaburi.

Division 2 BKK
(Saturday)
Thai Honda v Samut Prakarn Utd
Bangkok Christian v Rangsit FC
Central Lions v Kasem Bundit
Kasetsart v Luk Esan
Chamchuri Utd v Nonthaburi
Rayong Utd v R-BEC
Krung Thonburi v Assumption Thonburi
Customs Utd v Globex
Samut Sakhon v North Bangkok

Here are the standings at the top as we enter the final game:
Thai Honda 71
Rayong Utd 66
R-BEC 64
Kasetsart 64
Samut Sakhon 62

Listed below are the possible permutations:
Thai Honda have already qualified for the playoffs as league winners.
The winner of Rayong United and R-BEC will claim second place.
A point would be sufficient for Rayong to finish second.
Rayong and R-BEC both have better head-to-head records over Kasetsart.
If Kasetsart beat Luk Esan they will finish third no matter the outcome of Rayong Utd v R-BEC.
For Samut Sakhon to finish third, they need R-BEC to lose and Kasetsart not to win. R-BEC beat Samut Sakhon on head-to-head but Samut Sakhon have a superior h2h over Kasetsart.

The top two automatically go into the playoffs while the third side will play the second placed club from the south in a one off tie in Songkla next Wednesday.