Malawi get their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign underway with a clash against Ethiopia at the Bingu National Stadium on Sunday.
The sides have been drawn in Group D of the qualifiers, where they are joined by Guinea and record AFCON winners Egypt.
Match preview
Malawi will be in action for the first time since January, when they were eliminated from the most recent Africa Cup of Nations by Morocco.
Mario Marinica's men took a shock lead in the seventh minute through Gabadinho Mhango before goals from Youssef En Nesyri and Achraf Hakimi turned the game on its head.
Consequently, the Flames still boast just one victory from their last eight outings, during which they have lost a whopping six times.
Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have won only one of the previous 10 meetings between the teams across all competitions.
However, that solitary triumph did come in the most recent encounter last March, when Sunday's hosts fell to a heavy 4-0 defeat in an international friendly.
Ethiopia played out a second consecutive share of the spoils against Lesotho at the Adama Science and Technology University Stadium on Tuesday.
Wubetu Abate's men opened the scoring just shy of the half-time whistle thanks to Dawa Hotessa before Jane Thaba-Ntso restored parity 19 minutes from time.
It is now six games without a victory for the Walia Ibex since the turn of the year ahead of a crucial match this weekend.
Off the back of one win from their last 12 games on the road, Sunday's visitors will need to pick themselves up to avoid embarking on another fruitless away from home.
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Team News
Malawi's Clever Mkungula and Gaddie Chirwa have both been handed their first call-ups off the back of impressive performances at club level.
Brighton Munthali has been named as a reserve and will be on ground to fill in for any of his teammates who picks up an injury.
Midfielder Gerald Phiri Jr. is closing in on a milestone, with his next appearance for the national team set to be his 50th.
Ethiopia's record goalscorer Getaneh Kebede will not have an opportunity to extend his lead at the top of the scoring charts after he was left out of the latest squad due to disciplinary reasons.
In Kebede's absence, 23-year-old Amanuel Gebremichael will be looking to deliver the goods for this weekend's visitors.
Malawi possible starting lineup:
Kakhobwe; Sanudi, Chembezi, Chirwa, Ndlovu; Madinga, Banda, Phiri Jr, Mhone; Mhango, Myaba
Ethiopia possible starting lineup:
F. Gebremichael; Bayeh, Yusef, Hamid, Tunjo; Bekele, Panom, Mohammed; A. Gebremichael, Hotessa, Nassir
We say: Malawi 1-0 Ethiopia
Malawi are unbeaten in six of their last eight home outings and will surely back themselves to get the job done against a team who have struggled away from home. We fancy the hosts to claim a narrow victory and begin their qualifying journey on a positive note.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
