Abubbaker Mobara's knee injury is not as serious as initially suggested but Ajax Cape Town will still not be risking the youthful central defender when they meet Free State Stars today.

He has been left behind in Cape Town to recover for Saturday's Nedbank Cup semifinal against SuperSport United, said coach Roger de Sa yesterday.

De Sa said Mobara had stretched a ligament and that medical staff would work hard on his recovery in the build-up to Saturday night's cup tie at the Athlone Stadium.

"But if we had to play the semifinal today, we would use him. We are just being cautious," the coach said.

De Sa had already stated at the weekend that he would rest other key players ahead of the cup game, handing Ea Lla Koto a chance for a second successive win as they seek to move further away from the relegation zone.

"That will help us," said Stars coach Kinnah Phiri of Ajax's precaution.

Stars won their first game of the year on Saturday in a five-goal thriller at Polokwane City as they played their first match since striker Richard Henyekane was killed.

The 3-2 victory took Stars out of the bottom two in the Premier Soccer League standings as they moved to 25 points. They will stay 14th even if they beat the Urban Warriors at Goble Park Stadium, Bethlehem, tonight in a catch-up game.

Kickoff is at 6pm.