CAVIN Johnson said the second half of the season will be much harder for his Platinum Stars side after they became one of the teams to beat before the festive season.

Dikwena had a remarkable run of nine wins in 10 games before the break, elevating them to third in the PSL table behind Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. They are probably the only three teams with a realistic chance of winning the championship this season.

But Johnson said his team's scalp had become a prized one and they would have to raise their standard further if they were to maintain that form.

"A lot of the teams below us will be better in the second half of the season, I think - the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns, and even Chippa United and AmaZulu. They will beef up their squads and find better consistency," Johnson said.

"We have tried to maintain the same squad and the same work ethic and I have told the players this week that we are going to have to up our game as individuals if we are going to continue to be successful.

"That goes for all of us, players and the technical team. We will be working on a lot of the team tactics and finer details to make sure that we stay ahead of the game."

The players returned to training this week and Johnson said he was delighted with the shape they were in and the commitment they had shown to train on their individual programmes over the festive season break.

"We have done all of our medical tests already and I can honestly say I am very pleased with the work the guys have put in while they were off. There is not a single player that I am unhappy with."