AJAX Cape Town hope a hike up the mountain and a few days off has recharged batteries as they prepare to defend their unbeaten record against Free State Stars this weekend.

"We will see on Saturday whether it has been the case but I think the break will have done us good," said coach Roger de Sa as his club take a five-match unbeaten run into the game at the Athlone Stadium.

"It is important to rest and recuperate. We have mixed it up with a walk up the mountain and some rest. We have players who have never played five games in a row before and they needed to have a break."

De Sa said the two-week hiatus in the league programme, because of the international fixtures, came at the right time because his side had been "poor" in their last outing against Chippa United.

"We never got going from the start and eventually we held on for a draw. It was not good at all in that a lot of our players disappeared after playing so well in the four previous games. But things like that are going to happen and we have to accept it. We've now had time to rectify the problem and to look ahead."

Ajax drew 1-1 away with their former neighbours in Port Elizabeth in their last encounter to go second on 11 points in the Absa Premiership standings, four behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs.

De Sa said he was working on improving creativity in the side and making better use of the width on the flanks.