Meshack Motloung

Meshack Motloung

Kaizer Chiefs' recent revival has made Ajax Cape Town wary on the eve of their Nedbank Cup last-32 stage encounter at Kings Park Rugby Stadium, in Durban, tonight.

But the Urban Warriors are up to the test and have become Amakhosi's hoodoo team.

Ajax are leading the league table and have vowed to boot their opponents out of the competition.

Though both sides go into this game with morale-boosting wins, Chiefs over Free State Stars and Ajax against Wits, at the end there has to be a winner either in extra time or via a penalty shootout.

Amakhosi seem to be on a high, but their fortunes cannot be decided by a solitary win.

The Urban Warriors have made their intentions clear: they will be down in Durban for a win and nothing else.

Chiefs' team manager Bobby "Bobsteak" Motaung said they had been playing well but luck has been eluding them.

"This is a cup game and it's a completely different ball game so we have to be cautious and positive. We have depth but the players know that to stay in the team they must perform on the day," he said.

Chiefs will be without the suspended Tinashe Nengomasha, but will rely on Kaizer Motaung Jnr, Mabhuti Khenyeza, Shaun Bartlett and David Mathebula to see them through to the next round.

Ajax spokesman Thabiso Mekuto said they had a huge task ahead of them.

"But Durban is our happy hunting ground. We have just come off a good win against Wits. The players showed great character and team spirit in that game. I expect more of the same against Chiefs tonight," Mekuto said.

"Playing in Durban suits us as we are used to playing at the coast and we won our last trophy there. So it's up to the players on the day.

"The foundation for our success this season is great team spirit, character and the will to win, and we will use these attributes against Chiefs this weekend."

Nathan Paulse, Russell Mwafulirwa and Sifiso Vilakazi will be available to steer Ajax to victory.