Chiefs determined to avoid slip-up against Gallants

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane hopes they can keep taking their chances in the race for a top-two finish when Marumo Gallants visit the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.

Kick-off is at 8pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

The Glamour Boys have closed right up on SuperSport United's heels after embarking on a four-match winning streak in the DStv Premiership to boost their CAF Champions League hopes.

Orlando Pirates (2nd), Matsatsantsa (3rd) and Chiefs (4th) are all tied on 40 points with six fixtures to go and Zwane's side will be targeting maximum points against the league's basement club to keep the pressure on their rivals.

First-half goals from Ashley Du Preez and Keagan Dolly secured a 2-1 victory over Stellenbosch last weekend, with Zwane admitting their finishing has improved markedly from earlier in the season when they struggled for results.

"You know when you're unfortunate about something, when you miss chances, when you concede goals you shouldn't, it's part of the game," he said. "And it was part of learning at the same time. As much as we're still conceding but we're scoring more goals and football is about that.

"Unfortunately in the past we missed a lot of chances and then conceded one goal and no-one can tell me these players will go to the field and want to lose the game and that is why I'm saying they were trying to adjust.

"They were trying to understand, at the same time the pressure was mounting and now it was up to us as the technical team how to calm their nerves and try to help them settle quickly."

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa gave their survival bid a shot in the arm by beating Royal AM 3-1 on Wednesday to close within three points of safety.

Dylan Kerr has done an impressive job since taking over the reins from Dan Malesela, picking up eight points out of a possible 12 after going unbeaten in the last four matches.

Kerr insists Gallants are focusing on themselves rather than looking at the teams ahead of them in the table and has urged his players to a show a desire to retain their top-flight status.

"We can't look at that. I knew Swallows would beat AmaZulu down there and I felt Maritzburg might sneak a draw, but they won the game. So I said to the players, we can't think about the other teams now, we must concentrate on ourselves," he said.

"Whatever other teams do, we have to match them, so three points are available and we have to make sure we get them, but we are not feeling any pressure.

"When you are at the bottom of the league, everybody expects you to lose. I don't think many people gave Swallows a chance against AmaZulu or Maritzburg against Galaxy. So at the end of the day, it is the players who want it more."

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Kaizer Chiefs:

Keagan Dolly: The 30-year-old winger struggled for form earlier in the season but has emerged as one of Chiefs' best players, scoring in back-to-back games against Maritzburg United and Stellenbosch most recently to take his tally for the campaign five goals from 23 appearances, while also registering four assists in the process.

Samkelo Zwane: The Amakhosi youth product was handed his fifth start of the season against Stellies and enjoyed a fine game in midfield, showing a willingness to shoot from range. Zwane tested the goalkeeper on two occasions with fierce strikes from outside the box and lashed a first-time volley just over the crossbar following good link-up play with Dolly and Du Preez.

Marumo Gallants:

Lesiba Nku: The 26-year-old winger didn't get much of a look-in earlier this season but has played a bigger role in the team since Kerr's arrival, netting his second league goal of the campaign against Royal AM to go with the three he scored in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages to help Gallants qualify for the quarterfinals.

Mahlatsi Makudubela: The 33-year-old winger will be pushing for a recall to the starting line-up after he stepped off the bench to seal a 3-1 win over Royal AM in midweek with a fine finish. Makudubela registered his first assist of the campaign when he set up Nku to equalise against Cape Town City prior to the international break but found himself back among the substitutes for the trip to Bloemfontein on Wednesday,