Zenit face Anzhi on the back of last week's 1-1 draw with reigning champions Lokomotiv.

That left them four points clear at the top from Krasnodar, who edged Samara 1-0, with eight matches remaining.

CSKA Moscow sit third, one point further back.

Semak blamed his forwards for the lacklustre display in Moscow.

"We haven't been aggressive enough against Lokomotiv," he told the club's official website.

"We've created some clear chances but scored only once. We cannot afford to be so wasteful if we want to win."

Semak added: "Of course it's very difficult to lead the league from the start of the season for any team and we're no exception.

"We are all under pressure but we're professionals and should continue moving forward under any conditions.

"Anzhi have nothing to lose as they desperately need points to avoid relegation. But we have no other choice but to win on Sunday to maintain our lead."

Krasnodar, who have won their last two league encounters after a four-match winless streak, are out to extend their successful run at struggling Dynamo Moscow.

Russian international midfielder Yury Gazinsky, said he and his teammates owed it to Krasnodar's fans to win after dropping too many points this season as they continue their pursuit of a maiden league title.

"For us it was very important to win after a series of unsuccessful matches to boost our self-reliance," Gazinsky said.

"Now we have no right to lose points again. We don't want to be in debt to our fans, who have always supported us faithfully.

"We will do everything in our power to win the title to make them happy. This match in Moscow will show whether we're ready for it."

CSKA, who beat bitter rivals Spartak 2-0 last week in Moscow's most famous derby to go third, take on Orenburg looking for another three points.

The Red Army side boss Viktor Gancharenko reflected: "My players made the right conclusions from the disappointing 2-2 draw with Ufa, when the opposition punished us for our loss of concentration.

"Against Spartak we have been focused throughout the match and it paid off. I hope my team will play in a similar way against Orenburg."

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday

Samara v Rubin Kazan (1530)

Saturday

Yenisei Krasnoyarsk v Ufa (0830), Arsenal Tula v Ural Yekaterinburg (1100), CSKA Moscow v Orenburg (1330), Akhmat Grozny v Lokomotiv Moscow (1630)

Sunday

Dynamo Moscow v Krasnodar (1100), Zenit St Petersburg v Anzhi Makhachkala (1330), Rostov v Spartak Moscow (1600)