Defending league champions Kaizer Chiefs host Sundowns in what promises to be one of the biggest games of the season at Soccer City on Saturday. Both teams will be out for maximum points, for Chiefs a win against Sundowns is essential if they are to retain their league title.

Sundowns will be desperate for all three points in order for them to not slip further behind early log leaders Orlando Pirates.

Sundowns will be without prolific goalscorer Peter Ndlovu, after the Zimbabwean hit-man saw red in their last League encounter with Orlando Pirates. However, the return of form to Rotson Kilambe will provide adequate replacement.

It will be interesting to see whether Raphael Chukwu will command another start, he was disappointing in Sundowns’ Cup loss against Wits on the weekend.

Amakhosi’s prolific marksman Collins Mbesuma will also be in the spotlight. The young Zambian has looked dangerous from the start of the season, however opposing defences are onto him and they will restrict his movement with the ball as much as possible. This could be the best time for David Radebe to swoop in and score with the opposing defenders so caught up in not giving Mbesuma any space; he could quite easily slip through unnoticed.

Key Players:

Kaizer Chiefs: Emmanuel ‘Scara’ Ngobese - Ngobese was superb over the weekend when Kaizer Chiefs hammered Dynamos 4-0, the winger was instrumental and played a part in three of the four goals. He is proving to be one of the signings of the season laughing in the face of his incompetent critics.

Sundowns: Rotson Kilambe - Kilambe has found a rich vein of form scoring in Sundowns match against Wits University in the Cup last weekend. He will be a sure target for the Sundowns midfielders, with the absence of Peter Ndlovu.

Coaches:


Kaizer Chiefs: Ted Dumitru


Sundowns: Paul Dolezar

Current Position:


Kaizer Chiefs: 4th


Sundowns: 2nd

Last Five League Results:

Kaizer Chiefs: 



11/09/04		Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 Silver Stars	(H)



16/10/04		Kaizer Chiefs 2-2 Bush Bucks	(H)



30/10/04		Orlando Pirates 2-1 Chiefs		(A)



06/11/04		Wits 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs 		(A)



13/11/04		Kaizer Chiefs 2-2 Golden Arrows	(H)



Sundowns:



26/09/04		Sundowns 0-0 Dynamos		(H)



03/10/04		Jomo Cosmos 0-2 Sundowns		(A)



17/10/04 		Sundowns 5-1 Rangers		(H)



29/10/04		Wits 0-0 Sundowns			(A)



14/11/04		Sundowns 1-2 Pirates		(H)

Probable line-ups:

Kaizer Chiefs: Fernandez, Nzama, Mabedi, Mkhonza, Spencer, Zwane, Nengomasha, Moshoeu, Ngobese, Radebe, Mbesuma

Sundowns: Baloyi, Tiene, Chalwe, Winstanley, Seneo, Nyandoro, Mazibuko, Moriri, Dladla, Chukwu, Kilambe