Struggling Heartland will no doubt tightly screw their heads onto their necks in Wednesday's 'win or bust' Oriental Derby clash against Abia Warriors at the Awka City Stadium.

The Naze Millionaires are at the wrong end of the standings and cannot afford to drop any point, especially at home.

After an improved performance at Katsina United, where they fetched a point, with claims the maximum points would have been theirs if not for poor decision of the match official, the five-time champions will welcome Oriental Rivals, Abia Warriors in this NPFL Match Day 25 fixture at their Awka City Stadium transit home ground with bottled resolve to amassed the maximum points.

For the Christian Obi charges, its 'no retreat, no surrender' versus Abia Warriors. They will be all out for a win, their possible third against Abia Warriors in 14 meetings.

Going into this clash, Warriors hold an intimidating head-to-head advantage over the 2009 CAF Champions League losing finalists.

Before now, both sides have crossed each others path 13 times. Abia Warriors have prevailed nine (9) times, Heartland won twice while two ties ended in draws.

This clash is a possible 'tide in the affairs of Heartland. Which taken afloat, leads on to fortune. But omitted, all the voyage of their campaign is bound in shallows and in mystery. They must take the current now that it serves, or lose the venture'.

I quoted this Brutus soliloquy in Julius Caesar just to butress the importance of victory on Wednesday for Heartland in their race against relegation. 

Mike Idoko's rescue work starts officially with this crucial game and anything short of win can on translate to adjusting for life in the NNL next season.

The Naze Millionaires put up a commendable performance at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina and even shot into the lead through Barnabas Ingya's headed effort but a late controversial penalty decision changed the game's tide and the visitors had to settle for a draw. It was how the game ended in Owerri too in the first stanza.

The dust from that game in Katsina had hardly settled but they have another important fixture with Abia Warriors lurking around. It is another Oriental derby which the visitors have dominated in the past until Heartland FC broke the unbeaten spell in 2020 under Fidelis Ilechukwu's reign as coach. Abiodun Thompson with the solitary goal at Okigwe Township Stadium. There was another win in 2022 also on May 1st in Owerri.

Heartland FC will work towards annexing the maximum points on Wednesday. The Naze Millionaires were impressive in Umuahia in the first leg tie last October and were unlucky to lose the game by a goal to nil. 

Heartland FC players and officials arrived from Katsina on Sunday night and are in high spirits to go all out for a positive result on Wednesday in Awka.

The current Acting Head Coach of Abia Warriors, Bethel Orji replaced Erasmus Onuh Olottah in 2015 at Heartland FC and nine years later in 2024 he will lead Abia Warriors to Awka to face his former club having taken over again from Erasmus Onuh this time at Abia Warriors.

New Abia Warriors recruits, Fabian Omaka and Arum Kingsley could play against Heartland FC on Wednesday. They were Heartland players as at January 2024 before they swapped base during the last mid-season transfer. 

Chinedu Ozor is another player who formerly featured for Abia Warriors but now with Heartland FC. He could also be in the mix for Wednesday tie. 

*Past Heartland FC Vs Abia Warriors Results* 

29/10/2023  Abia Warriors 1-0 Heartland
01/05/2022 Heartland 2-1 Abia Warriors
16/01/2022 Abia Warriors 1-0 Heartland
21/07/2021 Abia Warriors 2-1 Heartland
07/03/2021 Heartland 2-2 Abia Warriors
12/01/2020 Heartland 1-0 Abia Warriors
12/05/2019 Heartland 2-4 Abia Warriors
06/02/2019 Abia Warriors 1-0 Heartland
08/04/2018 Heartland 0-0 Abia Warriors
19/06/2016 Abia Warriors 1-0 Heartland
28/02/2016 Heartland 0-1 Abia Warriors
23/08/2015 Abia Warriors 1-0 Heartland
22/04/2015 Heartland 0-1 Abia Warriors