The summit of the Zimbabwe Premier League log continued to change hands at a dizzying pace this weekend with Black Rhinos displacing overnight leaders FC Platinum following a 3-0 demolition of Hwange on Sunday.
Rhinos, returning to the topflight after two years in Division One, have now won six of nine matches to confirm their emergence as a formidable force in the league.
James Mukombwe gave Chauya Chipembere a fifth minute lead before further goals from Milton Kureva (44) and Vincent Nhandu (83) sealed a comfortable win for the army side.
A mere three points now separates the top five teams after matchday nine with Highlanders, How Mine, Ngezi Platinum, ZPC Kariba and Black Rhinos taking turns to occupy pole position over the last few weeks.
Rhinos for their part have perfected a way of consistently defying the formbooks, and their conquests so far include giants Dynamos and Chicken Inn.
Stix Mutizwa's troops also managed to bring back home a point from a visit to FC Platinum, while Sunday's win over Hwange proves their consistency against struggling sides.
Ngezi Platinum beat ZPC Kariba 2-1 at Baobab Stadium to sit joint-second with Platinum on 19 points, a point behind Rhinos.
Walter Mukanga put Ngezi ahead with a strike in the first minute only for Manuvire to equalise just before the half-hour mark following a Patson Jaure howler.
Tichaona Mabvura then scored what proved to be the winning goal for the home side just before the break.
With Terence Dzukamanja, Donald Teguru and Mukanga in fine form, Ngezi were good value for their win.
Dynamos' struggles continued as they allowed visiting Shabanie Mine to steal a point in an uninspiring encounter at the National Sports Stadium.
Cameroonian import Joel Epoupa Christian struck first to give Dembare the lead on 16 minutes, but any hopes that the fallen giants would register their first home win of the campaign proved misplaced as Collin Dhuwa equalised with a superb volley just before the break.
The result left Dynamos stranded in an unfamiliar 14th position with eight points, the same as Hwange, who occupy the last of the relegation places.
Triangle recovered from a first-half penalty miss by goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu to beat How Mine 2-0 at Gibbo Stadium for only their second win of the campaign.
Forward Lameck Nhamo opened the scoring on 51 minutes before Raphael Kawondera sealed a crucial win for the sugarcane farmers three minutes from time.