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aiming high

Linda Moreotsene

Linda Moreotsene

Tonight, Platinum Stars and Lamontville Golden Arrows - two sides who met just a week ago in the Nedbank Cup - have a date at Olen Park Stadium in Potchefstroom.

While Stars could be forgiven for thinking they have the mental edge in this one, courtesy of having won their last match, the visitors have done the numbers this time around.

A win might not be worth R6 million, but the three points at stake are worth a giant leap of four places - over AmaZulu, Santos, Wits and Ajax Cape Town - for Arrows, who will then be fifth on the log, one point ahead of Ajax.

Stars player Muzi Mkalipa is concerned about their lapses in concentration at crucial moments.

"They [Arrows] are great ball-players, and we should be wary of being hit on the counterattack, and just close them down," Mkalipa said.

Morale cannot be high at Arrows, and while right-back Bheka Phakathi has been in great form, the absence of the injured Kagisho Dikgacoi must be a blow.

"In a match like this one, you cannot predict the results, but I'm confident my team is capable of doing the job," Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi said.

The Tycoons' last performance laid to rest rumours of discord related to the latest Jabu Mahlangu disappearing act, when they beat Swallows 2-1. Sources in the Stars camp have confirmed Mahlangu's return to training on Monday.

At Rustenburg's Olympia Park, ailing Moroka Swallows will welcome Free State Stars, whose 12th position on the log is just too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

"We are in a bad situation and I honestly can't say what has gone wrong. We just need one win to restore confidence," striker Sandile Ndlovu said.

Except for the suspended Paulos Masehe, Free State Stars brought a full-strength squad boasting the likes of Duncan Lechesa and Sthembiso Ngcobo. Coach Steve Khompela feels the time away from the game - they last played on March 8 - could work in his team's favour.

"We are facing a very dangerous team, but we are very uncomfortable with our log position," Khompela said.

Both matches start at 7.30pm.

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