Although there is no relegation, the bottom-half of the 11-team competition was more active in a bid to strengthen their squads for the second leg, which starts tomorrow.

Chittagong Abahani, second from bottom, will include six new faces including four foreign players while basement side Rahmatganj are going for seven new signings.

Rahmatganj, yet to win a single match, had registered one foreigner and two locals earlier but last night, confirmed services of leaders Dhaka Mohammedan's unregistered player Arafat Rony -- a national under-23 booter -- and Nigerian midfielder Francis, who appeared in a few matches for the black and whites.

Farashganj also signed two Africa-based footballers while Arambagh went for two local boys.

However, title contenders Abahani and Muktijoddha were still in dilemma over fresh signings.

Third-placed Abahani released Mariano Sanchez and Hernan Parodi on conclusion of the first leg while their fellow Argentine Mariano Caporale also left for home to sort out family affairs.

The central defender, arguably the best import in domestic football in a decade, has yet to confirm his return to Dhaka.

The sky-blues were sweating over his availability while their former players, Cameroon's Ndem and Marshall, have not confirmed their arrivals despite completing all necessary works including getting visas.

The strongest team on paper, Abahani struggled throughout the season in lack of a quality striker and the club management believes that another Cameroonian, Soleiman Nchohaut, would solve the problem.

The striker, who plays in Tunisia, has joined training and the officials were happy to see his skill and condition.

"It's difficult to say anything after a day's practice but he (Soleiman) is tall and has good headwork apart from the ability to rush. But finishing is the most important thing. WE have to wait to see how he performs in a match," told Abahani manager Satyajait Das Rupu yesterday.

"Ndem and Marshall have been in constant touch but we have failed to contact them for the last 24 hours. If they are no available, we have another player in the pipeline, an African who plays in India. We are also expecting the confirmation from Caporale before tomorrow's deadline," the ex-national midfielder added.

Meanwhile, fourth-placed Muktijoddha, who have only two foreigners, confirmed roping in midfielder Jony from Chittagong Abahani on loan.