SALLA, Finland (Interstat) — Peja will visit Trepca Mitrovice on Saturday in a Kosovo FBK basketball game at Salla e sporteve Minatori. The matchup pits a Peja team looking to steady its early season against a Trepca Mitrovice squad that has opened with a win.

Peja enters with a 1-1 record. Its most recent outing ended in a loss to Dinamo Tbilisi. Xavier Johnson was Peja’s most productive player in that game, finishing with 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Jetmir Zeqiri added eight points and four rebounds, while Orges Shatri had five points, two rebounds and two assists. Peja’s other result this season was a win over AEL Limassol. Johnson, who logged 38 minutes in the most recent loss, remains the player to watch for Peja. His rebounding, defensive activity and ability to contribute as a secondary playmaker make him central to Peja’s attack.

Trepca Mitrovice is 1-0. It opened its season with a 106-101 road win over Rahoveci. The home side will look to build on that result and protect its early position in the Kosovo FBK standings. Trepca Mitrovice’s upcoming schedule includes games against Bashkimi, Promitheas Patras, Vellaznimi, Split, Bora, Opava, Ylli, Batumi-RSU, AEL Limassol and Trier.

Peja’s next 10 games include matchups with Dinamo Tbilisi, Vellaznimi, Ylli, Rahoveci, Bashkimi, Bora, AEL Limassol, Trepca Mitrovice, Vellaznimi and Ylli. The team will need Johnson to carry a significant role on both ends. Peja will also lean on Zeqiri and Shatri for support as it tries to even its record and find consistency away from home.

Trepca Mitrovice’s early win over Rahoveci showed it can score at a high rate. The team will aim to use its home court at Salla e sporteve Minatori to control pace and keep Peja from finding rhythm. Peja, meanwhile, will try to recover from its most recent defeat and even its record. The Kosovo FBK matchup is one of several important early-season games for both clubs.

Peja’s schedule after Saturday includes a return game against Trepca Mitrovice later in the season. Trepca Mitrovice will also face several challenging opponents in the coming weeks, including Promitheas Patras and Split. The game in Salla, Finland, will be played at Salla e sporteve Minatori, with Peja as the visiting team and Trepca Mitrovice listed as the home team.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Peja 87, Trepca Mitrovice 76. Interstat’s ELO system gives Trepca Mitrovice a 62.9 percent probability to win.