Kaizer Chiefs need to keep their eye on the ball and focus on the crucial three points they do not want to drop when they host Ajax Cape Town at FNB Stadium tonight, says striker Matthew Rusike.

Even Ajax coach Roger de Sa has been mindful this week that league leaders Chiefs have the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates at the same venue on Saturday as a potential distraction.

Rusike said for Amakhosi, whose once seemingly unattainable lead has been whittled down since the Africa Cup of Nations break, trying to beat Ajax is as important as the derby.

"As the coach [Stuart Baxter] said, this is three points and Ajax need to be given the respect they deserve," Rusike said.

"Ajax are looking good. They seem to have found some form and are coming off a win. But we need to knuckle down and get back to our winning ways and the way we play football."

Since the restart, the Urban Warriors have drawn 1-1 against Polokwane City and beat Chippa United 2-0 - both at home.

An example of how brittle Chiefs' lead suddenly appears is that if they lose against Ajax and Pirates beat them, Amakhosi's lead over the Buccaneers could be reduced to six points.

Since Kingston Nkhatha's departure to SuperSport United, Rusike has been given game time with his first three league and cup starts of the season. He scored in the Champions League against Township Rollers. The Zimbabwean has looked more comfortable at centre forward than Bernard Parker.