Zeca Marques has done a pretty good job to move Black Leopards from 11th place up to third in the National First Division, but even he knows it would mean absolutely nothing if Lidoda Duvha cannot win promotion.

Leopards are at home to Jomo Cosmos in the opening play-offs match in Thohoyandou on Sunday (3pm), eager to make a solid start in the three-team mini- league which also features Absa Premiership club Moroka Swallows.

Marques, who quit his job at Swallows in the first half of the season, sounded pretty relaxed ahead of the showdown with Cosmos. But he is wary of Ezenkosi, who are the only club - in both the first division and Absa Premiership - to score more than 50 goals in the league this season. Jomo Sono's men are fairly solid in defence too.

"I think this is the best Cosmos team I have seen in years. We have played against them and they have much better players. They finished second in the league. Throw in Moroka Swallows in there and I think this is going to be one of the best play-offs we have seen," the 53-year-old said. "Personally it's a feeling of satisfaction to be in play-offs. We were in 11th position when I joined and now we find ourselves in the play-offs.

"There is a lot at stake in the play-offs and our guys have to be ready."

Marques will face his former side Swallows in Dobsonville on Wednesday.

"It's going to be emotional, but I have my job to do at Leopards.

"I am a winner and I want Leopards to be winners. We are working hard and we are getting support from the club. I have managed to get everyone to focus," Marques said.