APR skipper Thierry Manzi will be a notable absentee when his side host Bugesera in the Rwanda Premier League at Kigali Stadium on Sunday.

The towering central defender is suspended for match-day 17 after accumulating three yellow cards, with the third having come during APR’s goalless draw against AS Kigali last Friday.

Also to miss the match is Claude Niyomugabo due to three bookings.

"It will be difficult to miss two starting players,” assistant captain Andrew Buteera admitted in an interview with Times Sport on Thursday.

However, he noted, "There is a positive attitude in the team and we have suitable replacements in our ranks. Whatever the result, the absence of the two will not be an excuse.”

Despite last week’s draw, the army side top the table with 38 points, four ahead of second-placed Rayon Sports, while Police and Mukura complete top four with 33 and 25 points, respectively.

Asked if APR are favourites for the title, Buteera was quick to shrug off title talks.

"We are enjoying the moment and everyone is happy that we are still unbeaten, it is still very early. The race is still wide open, so we are just focusing on one game at a time.

We cannot let the title talk get into our heads, it’s a distraction.”

In a separate interview, skipper Manzi said that he was sad to miss the game, but believed his teammates would fill his gap ‘just fine’.

"It is sad that I will sit out against Bugesera, but I believe my teammates will fill the gap just fine. We want to keep the unbeaten run and to stay top, with that I have no doubt the available players will do everything possible to win against Bugesera.”

APR beat Bugesera 1-0 during the last two sides’ first-leg last October courtesy of a solo strike from former Rayon Sports forward Djabel Manishimwe who was signed in June along with Manzi, centre-back Ange Mutsinzi, midfielder Olivier Niyonzima and attacking midfielder Christophe Bukuru.

Other players suspended this weekend include Landry Masiri (Heroes), Pius Wanji (Sunrise), Augustin Kaneza (Gasogi United) and Jean Didier Touya of Musanze.