When Kaizer Chiefs face off against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday, thoughts of the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates on May 3 will loom in the back of their minds.
Victory against Chippa will be vital in setting the tone for the derby and will add an extra layer of significance to Saturday’s match.
Equally, Chiefs will be looking to build on the momentum gained from their morale-boosting 2-1 semi-final Nedbank Cup win against Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend.
The two teams have a history of intense matches. At this stage, Chiefs (24 games, 30 points) are seeking crucial points to move up the log, wary of the fact that Chippa are sitting right above them on the log. Chippa (29 points) are ninth on the table and have played two games fewer.
The two teams have met twice this season, with Kaizer Chiefs emerging victorious in the first round of the Premiership campaign and the Nedbank Cup Round of 16.
The Chippa coach Thabo September is mindful that the Soweto giants go into the match against the backdrop of recording a massive victory over Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend. He said he views Saturday's clash as a "six-pointer" because the outcome could result in significant movement on the log.
"Since the two teams are so close on the log table, I view this as a six-pointer," September told SNL24.
"We will strive to win on Saturday, and I've instructed my players to focus more on our performance rather than Kaizer Chiefs'.
"We need to concentrate on continuing our good form. We didn't concede in our last game and have only allowed one goal in our last three matches, so we should maintain that defensive strength.
"We need to capitalise on our opportunities when they arise. I expect a confident and highly motivated Kaizer Chiefs team, especially after they qualified for CAF and secured a spot in the Nedbank Cup final," added the former SuperSport United defender.
"Our chances of finishing in the top eight this season are promising, as we are two games behind Kaizer Chiefs, who currently occupy 8th place. The players are embracing this challenge, which is great for us."
Chippa United will be without the services of utility defender Azola Ntsabo, who is under suspension. He’ll sit out against Chiefs after accumulating four yellow cards.