IT WILL not come close to the agony of having to surrender their Absa Premiership title to Kaizer Chiefs last week, but Mamelodi Sundowns can still hurt the newly crowned champions tonight.
This encounter, at Lucas Moripe Stadium (7.30 kickoff), was initially billed as a potential title decider for both sides in the run-in, but it has now fizzled into a dead rubber.
However, Sundowns captain Alje Schut said the Brazilians still had last season's record points tally to protect.
The Dutchman and his teammates clinched the championship with 65 points to end their seven-year league title drought last season.
Chiefs need two points to equal that record and have three matches remaining.
"It seems there was an instruction from [Chiefs coach] Stuart Baxter not to celebrate after winning the title last week because he believes there's still something to play for," said Schut.
"They obviously want to set a new record, so I don't believe they will take the foot off the pedal against us. We've suffered a bit of a mental block after losing the league title, but reaching the final of the Nedbank Cup has lifted the mood a little."
The high spirits at Downs may help to ensure a win against Amakhosi and thereby help derail another Baxter's targets - beating the points tally - in what has been a fruitful season for Chiefs.
Schut said coach Pitso Mosimane has not minced his words on two main objectives.
"For us, facing Chiefs is a big deal. They want to show off being champions and we want to play for our pride and honour.
"We are still looking at finishing second because we want to play in the [CAF] Champions League next season - that's one objective. The other is to win the Nedbank Cup," said Schut.
Spirits high at Downs before the Chiefs clash
IT WILL not come close to the agony of having to surrender their Absa Premiership title to Kaizer Chiefs last week, but Mamelodi Sundowns can still hurt the newly crowned champions tonight.
This encounter, at Lucas Moripe Stadium (7.30 kickoff), was initially billed as a potential title decider for both sides in the run-in, but it has now fizzled into a dead rubber.
However, Sundowns captain Alje Schut said the Brazilians still had last season's record points tally to protect.
The Dutchman and his teammates clinched the championship with 65 points to end their seven-year league title drought last season.
Chiefs need two points to equal that record and have three matches remaining.
"It seems there was an instruction from [Chiefs coach] Stuart Baxter not to celebrate after winning the title last week because he believes there's still something to play for," said Schut.
"They obviously want to set a new record, so I don't believe they will take the foot off the pedal against us. We've suffered a bit of a mental block after losing the league title, but reaching the final of the Nedbank Cup has lifted the mood a little."
The high spirits at Downs may help to ensure a win against Amakhosi and thereby help derail another Baxter's targets - beating the points tally - in what has been a fruitful season for Chiefs.
Schut said coach Pitso Mosimane has not minced his words on two main objectives.
"For us, facing Chiefs is a big deal. They want to show off being champions and we want to play for our pride and honour.
"We are still looking at finishing second because we want to play in the [CAF] Champions League next season - that's one objective. The other is to win the Nedbank Cup," said Schut.
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