Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler is refusing to look any further than their clash with Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday in his quest to secure a top-four finish.
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Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
CURRENT FORM
The Citizens have seen their CAF Champions League hopes slip away after making a winless start to the second half of the season and picking up just four points out of a possible 21 this year.
A 1-0 defeat to AmaZulu at the Cape Town Stadium on 7 April left City without a win in their last seven games, but Tinkler believes they can still achieve their target with five of their remaining seven fixtures being on home soil.
Tinkler's side are only three points behind Sekhukhune United (4th) in seventh position, although TS Galaxy have thrown a spanner in the works after winning three on the spin to move up to sixth with two games in hand.
Training time đŸ’ª pic.twitter.com/fQK3KCFZme
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) April 18, 2024
Top-flight newcomers Rise And Shine could still finish in the top eight, but they've struggled for consistency in 2024 after winning just two of their seven matches since the mid-season break.
The 2022-23 Motsepe Foundation Championship winners held SuperSport United to a 1-1 draw in midweek to close within one point of Kaizer Chiefs (8th) in 11th spot.
However, they face stiff competition from Royal AM (13th), Usuthu (12th), Chippa United (10th) and Golden Arrows (9th), who are separated by just two points in the standings.
WHAT WAS SAID
Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler
"With five home games left, we've got to believe that we can collect maximum points from those. But for me, honestly, it's just about those next three points and then assess where we are.
"We have to go game by game, game by game. Our target is obviously trying to finish in the top four. That's what we wanted already at the beginning of the season.
"Do we still stand a chance? Is it mathematically still achievable? Yes, so we've got to continue believing that we can, but I don't want to look at the end product. I actually want to just focus now on the next game against Polokwane City.
"And obviously get ourselves out of this ... I won't call it a rut, because I don't see us in a rut. I think we had only one game against Royal AM where I really thought we were poor. But since then the players have responded positively."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Polokwane City - Oswin Appollis has given Phuti Mohafe much to ponder after making an impact in the last two games, getting an assist in the 3-2 defeat to Royal AM and scoring the equaliser against Matsatsantsa.
The 22-year-old winger was left out of the starting line-up for the previous two matches as Mohafe felt he doesn't offer enough defensively, but the youngster is proving hard to leave out.
Cape Town City - Khanyisa Mayo holds the key to the Citizens' top-four challenge and they need him at his best after going five games without a goal.
The 25-year-old striker scored five goals in his last six outings in 2022-23 and Tinkler will be hoping he can go on a similar run to finish the campaign strongly.
Mayo is still a contender to retain the Golden Boot as he trails topscorer Lucas Ribeiro (11) by two goals.
HEAD-TO-HEAD (Last five DStv Premiership meetings)
Matches - 5
Polokwane wins - 1
CT City wins - 3
Draws - 1