ZECA Marques will have to dig deep to save his job and bring the wingless Moroka Swallows back to flight before the Christmas break.

His mission begins on Sunday when the MTN8 champs travel to Botshabelo Stadium in the Free State to square up against Telkom KO champs Bloemfontein Celtic.

"We are looking forward to the trip although we know it will be a tough one. We have to fight back and get ourselves back to a respectable position," said the coach.

After ending their three-year trophy drought, Marques's Birds plunged to seven matches without a win - with the last four matches ending in defeat. The 3-1 loss against SuperSport United last weekend saw the coach offering to step down, but club chairman Leon Prins declined the resignation, opting to give Marques two games to change the side's fortunes. Marques now wants to get the team into the top eight.

"The pressure is on myself because it is my responsibility to get the team where we want to be. I want the team to be successful, I want the fans to be happy, I want to produce a team of winners - that is the challenge we now face," he said.

If Marques fails to collect maximum points on Sunday, the midweek clash on Wednesday against in-form Platinum Stars could well be his last.

In the other game on Sunday troubled Lamontville Golden Arrows - who were on the receiving end of a record 6-4 defeat to Platinum Stars - will be up against Ajax Cape Town.

Both matches start at 3.30pm.