Bidvest Wits will look to dent Kaizer Chiefs’ Absa Premiership title hopes when the teams meet at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Sunday afternoon.
Kick-off is at 3:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
The Clever Boys have put together an eight-game unbeaten run in the league, though that includes six draws – the most recent of which was 1-1 away to Bloemfontein Celtic on Thursday.
The result effectively ended Wits' hopes of winning the league title, but Gavin Hunt's troops will still have a huge say in who gets relegated and who wins the Absa Premiership title this season.
"Their biggest weapon of the season will be back in the form of [Samir] Nurkovic so I'm expecting a different team from the one that played against Sundowns. Obviously there were some players that played out of position [against Sundowns] that won't play there again. It will be totally different," said Hunt.
"People don't obviously know the challenges we've faced, but we keep going. The players have given me everything. We will just continue going and give it everything we've got.
"There will be a backlash from Chiefs. They are a proud club, the biggest club in South Africa. They are fighting to win the league, but we are also fighting for third. I think we still have a great chance [to finish in the top three], but we need to start winning games starting Sunday, which won't be easy that's for sure," he concluded.
Chiefs have won just once in five league outings since the restart and suffered a sixth defeat of the season when they were beaten 1-0 at home by title rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
The run of results has put pressure on Amakhosi head coach Ernst Middendorp, who felt his side were unlucky to lose out on all three points against their league rivals.
"It doesn't matter if you play Baroka FC, Bidvest Wits, or Chippa United, or if you play Black Leopards...it's not an easy task," said Middendorp.
"There is no [easy] game and we have seen that in the past.It [the defeat] should not have happened against Sundowns, but we know why.
"We were consistently in their [Sundowns'] half, one mistake, one counter on the side. We had opportunities and I think in the last and second last minute it was just a tap-in, easy header and it could have been 1-1."
The teams met as recently as 12 August, in the first week of the league’s restart, and played out a 1-1 draw: Chiefs looked to be on course for all three points thanks to Samir Nurkovic’s opener, but Cole Alexander netted a late equaliser for Wits.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BIDVEST WITS
Thulani Hlatshwayo: The Clever Boys will be expecting an aerial bombardment and Hlatshwayo will have to be at his best to keep out the likes of Erick Mathoho and Samir Nurkovic who have proven a real handful this season. Hlatshwayo has played a key part in Wits' impressive defensive record and will have another integral role to play.
Phathutshedzo Nange: The midfielder has impressed in a more advanced position in recent weeks and plays a key role in linking the midfield with those that occupy attacking positions on the park. Nange's energy will cause the Amakhosi defence all sorts of problems and the Soweto giants will need to keep a close eye on the former Black Leopards star.
KAIZER CHIEFS
Samir Nurkovic: Chiefs will welcome their star striker back from suspension for the weekend clash and will be counting on him to fire them back to winning ways and all three points. The Serb has scored 13 goals in 23 league games this season, while he has assisted a further five. Nurkovic has been one of the signings of the season.
Willard Katsande: The Amakhosi skipper will have an important role to play against an impressive Wits midfield who will be up for battle. Furthermore, his leadership will be key as the Amakhosi aim to bounce back following the setback they suffered on Thursday evening.
