Last season’s top-scorer Prince Nxumalo is set for a first start of the new campaign after recovering from illness and could feature against SuperSport United in the Telkom Knockout Last 16 clash in Atteridgeville on Saturday night.

Nxumalo netted 13 goals for Ajax in the previous campaign‚ earning him a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad‚ despite suffering bouts of epilepsy that curtailed his season.

He was laid low again in the last few weeks with potentially life-threatening meningitis‚ limiting him to only three substitute appearances so far this campaign.

But a facial injury to fellow forward Nathan Paulse has opened the door for a first start and coach Roger de Sa says he is looking sharp.

“Prince has shown good signs that he is ready despite the illness that he has had‚” De Sa says.

”He has bounced back really well.

"He has had two full weeks of training and he has put in some extra work as well.”

De Sa says he is also considering a start for Portuguese junior international Jucie Lupeta‚ who has also been restricted to just two appearances off the bench so far this campaign.

“Jucie is also ready‚ he can’t wait to get going.

"We are fortunate that we have a little bit of cover‚ in this week coming with three games in a week‚ you need a full squad.”

The Ajax coach says they know exactly what to expect from SuperSport and it is a daunting prospect.

“With [coach] Stuart [Baxter]‚ they will be very well organised‚ very structured.

"They have a game-plan and it works for them‚” De Sa said.

“They have got a very good squad‚ they have some very good players like Jeremy Brockie‚ Dean Furman and Reneilwe Letsholoyane.

“They have massive depth‚ but we cannot focus on one or two players‚ whatever 11 they put out will be very good.

"But we know what to expect from them and sometimes it is easier to play against teams you know‚ than ones you don’t know what they will do.”

Ajax are yet to win a match this season with three defeats and two draws.

De Sa says he feels their luck will change‚ given that their performances have not been as bad as the results suggest.

“If we had a better league record we would attack this game differently.

"But looking at the way we have been playing‚ we are probably just going to go there and try the best we can‚” he said.

“We haven’t played badly‚ though we have had some bad patches along the way.

"But overall our performances haven’t been a reflection of the result.

“We have to try and keep doing the right things and the quicker it turns‚ the better. If it has to happen in a cup game‚ so be it.

“In these type of situations‚ we know that it is not necessarily even a game that changes things‚ it could be a moment.

"It could be a ball that deflects off a guy’s knee and goes in the other corner.

“This is a fantastic bunch of players‚ the morale is unbelievable‚ they work extremely hard‚ they respect the decisions we make as far as playing personnel are concerned‚ there is never one guy that drops his lip here.

“If they keep going in the same way it is going to turn‚ it is just a matter of time. We just have to believe in them.” - TMG Digital