Durban Super Giants head coach Lance Klusener says that it is not too late for his team to pick up momentum and rescue their season as they prepare to make the trip to face MI Cape Town at the Newlands Cricket Ground today (5.30pm start).
The Super Giants came into the tournament as one of the favourites, but they have struggled to live up to those expectations as they prepare to face off against a Rashid Khan-led MI Cape Town side at a sold-out Newlands.
Anything but a win will keep their hopes alive in the tournament.
The Durban-based outfit boasts one of the tournament's most talented squads, including New Zealand international Kane Williamson and it is with that reason that coach Klusener believes that they will soon turn their fortunes.
“We have a group of good players who just haven’t found their form,” said Klusener
“Unfortunately but that is cricket sometimes. But I think that rather than dwelling on the past, we have an opportunity ahead of us.
“I am very certain five wins will qualify us and that is pretty much all we are interested in at the moment. With the quality in the dressing room, it will take someone to light the fire and get them going.
“If we get going, we will be difficult to stop if we can qualify. I have been doing franchise cricket for many years and I know that teams that pick up momentum near the end are the ones that are difficult to stop.”
Quinton de Kock, a renowned destructive opener, has found a new home in third and fourth since the start of the tournament.
The 32-year-old has only managed to score 138 runs in seven matches with only one half century and Klusener put that decision down to the balance of the side.
“Its all about balance; a lot of teams have a lot of left-arm spinners in the middle as well, so that was something we looked at also,” Klusener continued.
“If you look at our squad, we have quite a few players that can open the batting.
“The thought was to give Bryce Parsons the opportunity early on; it was a thought of maybe using Quinton in the middle as a left-right combination; that was our thinking early on.”
The KwaZulu-Natal-based outfit is winless in their last five matches and with three fixtures remaining in their round-robin stage, the rest of their tournament will see them face must-win encounters at every outing.
The Super Giants will get a boost, though, with Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis set to join up with his teammates for the rest of the tournament, and Klusener hopes the hard-hitting Aussie will give his side better balance as they continue their search for wins.
“Marcus Stoinis will be joining us, so that will change the balance a little bit. It has been unfortunate that we haven’t been able to get Prenelan (Subrayen) into the last two games with their left-handers.
“He has only had one game and I thought he was outstanding; we just need to relook at that balance. I know Stoinis will change the balance slightly and it might give someone like Prenelan a chance to make a play.
“We will just have to wait and see how Stoinis turns up, but its exciting for us; we can have a look and play someone who can attack those left-handers as well.”