Highlands out to dent Maritzburg's top three hopes

Highlands Park will lock horns with Maritzburg United in an Absa Premiership match at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 1:30 pm CAT.

The Lions of the North are enduring a poor run in the league as they are winless in their last six matches having drawn 1-1 with Polokwane City away last weekend.

They now find themselves outside the top eight on the league standings as they placed ninth - two points behind seventh-placed Cape Town City with three games left.

However, Owen Da Gama, the Highlands Park coach, is proud of his charges despite their current winless run and he will once again pin his hopes on in-form striker Peter Shalulile, who netted against Polokwane.

"It is understandable. It's a difficult period for everybody, you can see some of the results that are coming. You can say it's shocking results. I'm proud of the boys," Da Gama said.

"We have always said that a lot of goals would be scored from set-pieces during this period. We have been working a lot on our set-pieces. I'm happy that Peter scored that goal [against Polokwane]. I'm so happy for him."

Meanwhile, Maritzburg are now winless in three matches in the league after drawing 0-0 with Bidvest Wits at home on Sunday.

As a result, the Team of Choice are placed sixth on the league standings - six points behind third-placed SuperSport United as the former look to secure a top-three finish.

Eric Tinkler, the Maritzburg coach, says he is expecting tough matches against Highlands Park and Orlando Pirates in their next two games.

"We have got Highlands and obviously their ambition is also to finish in the top eight, so that's going to be a tough game," Tinkler said.

"And immediately after that we have Pirates. I know they want to finish third and try to get into CAF, so you know those two games are going to be extremely tough."

Highlands Park: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mothobi Mvala: The midfield maestro remains a proven goalscoring midfielder having netted three times in the league this season. Mvala will be hoping to play an instrumental role in helping his side snap their six-match winless run.

Peter Shalulile: The Namibian marksman cannot stop scoring goals at the moment and he is now the league's joint-top scorer with 14 goals. Shalulile will be eager to maintain his goalscoring form against a stubborn Maritzburg side.

Maritzburg United: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Richard Ofori: The Ghanaian goalkeeper kept his 11th clean sheet of the season in the league when they drew 0-0 with Wits. Ofori will be eager to make it two clean sheets in as many league matches when they face Highlands Park.

Thabiso Kutumela: The Bafana Bafana international is the Team of Choice's top scorer in the league having hit the back of the net six times this season. Kutumela will be keen to add to his tally and inspire his side to a win in Soweto.