Kaizer Chiefs will lock horns with Highlands Park in an Absa Premiership match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday as they look for their fifth successive win.Kick-off is at 6pm.
Amakhosi edged Maritzburg United 2-1 away in their previous league encounter which was played in Pietermaritzburg last weekend.
Willard Katsande fired Amakhosi into the lead five minutes into the second half and Siphiwe Tshabalala sealed the visitors’ victory with 10 minutes left.
The win extended Chiefs’ winning run to four league matches. Since losing to Chippa United last December, they have recorded four wins and one draw.
Title chasing Chiefs are placed third on the league log with 30 points from 17 games. They are only a point behind log leaders Bidvest Wits, who have played 15 games.
The Soweto giants will have to do without their key centre back Erick Mathoho. The towering defender is expected to serve his suspension against Highlands.
Tshabalala has been in top form for Amakhosi, scoring in their last two games. The experienced midfielder will look to inspire Steve Komphela’s side to victory on Saturday.
Chiefs defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele has stressed the importance of beating the Lions of the North in order to extend their winning run.
“I watched their last game (against Polokwane City) at home and obviously they have a good team,” said Mphahlele.
“I am actually surprised they are at the bottom of the log, because they have good players who have experience of playing at the highest level.
“We have to be at our best if we want to beat them and switch on from the first whistle till the last and take our chances,” he added.
“In all honesty we are expected to win against them and we want to keep our winning streak going.”
Meanwhile, Highlands were held to a 1-1 stalemate at home by Polokwane City in their previous league encounter which was played in Tembisa last weekend.
Peter Shalulile hit the back of the net just two minutes into the game to put the Lions of the North into the lead, but City snatched a late equaliser.
The draw extended Highlands’ winless run in the league to four matches. After beating Ajax Cape Town last December, they have registered two draws and two defeats.
Relegation threatened Highlands are placed 15th on the league standings with 14 points from 17 matches. They are only two points behind 12th-placed Platinum Stars.
Stavros Tsichlas, the Lions of the North goalkeeper coach, will not be part of the technical team on Saturday as he will beserving his suspension.
Charlton Mashumba has netted only three goals this season for Highlands. The Tembisa side will be hoping that the striker rediscovers his scoring form against Chiefs.
Highlands goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini believes that if they take their chances in Durban they will stand a good chance of stunning their much-fancied opponents.
“We need to go to Durban with the right mentality. It is good that we have been creating chances in our previous games,” Kapini told supersport.com.
“I believe that if we can score at least two goals we will stand a good chance of winning the match.
“But Chiefs have been doing very well – so we are expecting a difficult match which we can win if we convert our chances.”
When Chiefs and Highlands met in the first-round league encounter last September in Tembisa, the former won 1-0 thanks to George Lebese’s goal.
