From the meaningless King's Super Cup in Swaziland to the Carling Black Label Cup tomorrow at FNB Stadium, these gimmicks only make sense to the marketing men.

But players, especially those with a new coach to impress, don't use the same logic as the rest of us.

Bernard Parker, a man who has featured in many pre-season tournaments and was this week readying himself for his umpteenth Soweto derby against arch-rivals Orlando Pirates, suggested a victory against the old enemy would be a decent building block for yet another title charge.

Chiefs will attempt to defend their Absa Premiership trophy this season following last season's impressive campaign under Stuart Baxter, who has been replaced by Steve Komphela.

"The thing with change is that it can be good or it can go the other way," said Parker.

"I think with the kind of positive mentality that coach Steve is instilling into us, and with his philosophy of wanting us to play more [attractive] football, we can overcome Pirates."

He reiterated what Komphela, ahead of his first ever derby, said earlier in the week. The Black Label Cup, with all the controversy and criticism that precedes it, will "set the tone" for the new campaign.

"If we win the Black Label Cup now and possibly win our first few [league] games and maybe even get to the final of the MTN8 and win it, then I think we are OK," he said.

"Of course we wouldn't mind having the same squad as last season, for instance [Itumeleng] Khune is just on another level as far as his counterparts are concerned." Parker will also be hoping to improve on his display from last season, where he managed only seven goals in 24 league matches to help Chiefs win their second championship in three years.