After a deflating defeat to SuperSport United, Soccer Laduma looks at five positives at Kaizer Chiefs ahead of the big Betway Premiership clash against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
Improved Attack
Chiefs attack look re-energized and sharpened since the signing of Makabi Lilepo, who has scored three goals in his first five matches.
Amakhosi approach the match at least having the belief that they have the personnel that can ask questions of Sundowns upfront, with Tashreeq Morris also hungry to prove himself.
Chiefs' Latest Solutions For Left-Back Woes
Dove Back
The biggest worry for the Glamour Boys against Sundowns could have been their vulnerability at left-back position, which was badly exposed against SuperSport without Thatayaone Ditlhokwe.
However, Chiefs announced on Thursday that Edmilson Dove is back from injury and ready for the titanic encounter against Sundowns.
Freshness
The Soweto giants enter the encounter well rested, as they did not have a midweek game and actually had 11 days of uninterrupted preparation for this match, since their 4-1 defeat to SuperSport.
In comparison, Sundowns have played three games in seven days from their midweek fixture last week against Marumo Gallants, weekend clash against TS Galaxy and this week's midweek encounter against Sekhukhune United.
The Brazilians will be playing their fourth game in ten days against Chiefs.
READ: Sirino Out! What Are Nabi's Options At Chiefs?
Balanced Midfield
Chiefs have finally found a suitable midfielder who can give them shape playing from deep, Thabo Cele.
Because previously, especially against Sundowns, the lack of a deep-lying playmaker was one of their vulnerabilities, with the likes of Samkelo Zwane, Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Yusuf Maart all pressed high when either one of them was playing that position, to force them to make mistakes in a position they were unfamiliar.
Surviving Suspensions
Apart from Gaston Sirino, who was red-carded against Matsatsantsa and therefore suspended against his former club, Chiefs do not have another suspension blow.
Amakhosi had key players Mduduzi Shabalala, Cele and Inacio Miguel all on three yellow cards prior to the game against SuperSport and they all survived a booking, which would have ruled them out of a visit to the Tshwane giants.
