Lamontville Golden Arrows coach Mandla Ncikazi sees neighbours AmaZulu as huge favourites in the KwaZulu-Natal derby that Abafana Besithende will host at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban on Saturday.

Both these sides are in their best form at such a late stage of the season‚ with Usuthu occupying second spot in the DStv Premiership after a 15-match unbeaten run and Arrows a spot below after going nine matches unbeaten.

Ncikazi believes Benni McCarthy’s team‚ who Arrows beat 2-0 in the first round in January‚ has had better recent form. The Arrows coach though says a positive for his side is that they have not against a team in the top half this season.

“It’s good that AmaZulu are where they are and it’s also good that Arrows are where they currently. It’s good for the province‚” Ncikazi said.

“It’s good that these teams are this competitive. We’re known for being the hub of football in KZN and for a change the hub is not producing for other teams. The hub is producing for its own teams.

“AmaZulu are favourites‚ that’s a given. Their log position says they’re favourites. Secondly‚ the number of matches they haven’t lost is more than us.

“We’re only nine games unbeaten‚ and they’ve won more games. Benni has been the [PSL] Coach of the Month and I have never been. That proves that maybe we are on form but AmaZulu are in better form than us.

“We are just relying on the fact that we’re playing at home‚ the history of how we played before and trying stick to what works for us.

“But as favourites‚ honestly so‚ AmaZulu are favourites. I always prefer to play as underdogs and I always say that in our team.

“Look at the teams we lost matches against. We lost against Black Leopards‚ who are bottom of the log currently‚ and we lost against Cape Town City.

“We’ve never lost against the top eight‚ top six or top five [this season]. I’m just hoping that history is repeated and it doesn’t happen again. But I know at the same that we’re playing against a team that’s very tough.

“We’ll try and compete and do our best‚ and hopefully Arrows will win the match.”

Ncikazi lamented the fact that Arrows meet Usuthu without the fans in the stands in Durban derby that will attract unprecedented attention nationwide.

“Playing without spectators‚ I’m not sure I would have loved them to be here [during the course of the season] if I look at the growth of our team‚” the coach said.

“Maybe their absence has helped in a way; maybe the pressure would have been too much.

“Even with the officials‚ sometimes the influence of the spectators and the decisions they make doesn’t favour the so-called small teams. Maybe we have benefitted in the process.

“But fairly so‚ football is an entertainment business and sponsors would loved to see numbers in the stadium as a return on investment. I’m hoping that soon there will be spectators.

“But on Saturday‚ I wish like Benni said‚ that football wins. It should be a good spectacle‚ a good derby where football will be the winner.”