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Johannesburg - Stuart Baxter believes that Kaizer Chiefs faithful will be a 12th player for the Glamour Boys when they welcome Orlando Pirates to the FNB Stadium for their MTN8 semi-final first leg on Saturday.
Kaizer Chiefs' official website reports that the AmaKhosi will look to replicate the result from their previous meeting in which the PSL champions came out 1-0 winners.
Lehlohonolo Majoro scored the match-winning goal on that occasion as Chiefs lifted the pre-season Carling Black Label Cup.
But Baxter believes that if the supporters can rally behind the team from the opening whistle, the players won't need extra motivation.
"The supporters will come in their numbers and they will be an extra player for us.
"When they rally behind the team as they have done over the years, in particular last season, it makes a difference as it inspires the lads on the pitch," said Baxter.
Baxter will have an added incentive to play for as he hopes to keep his unblemished home record as Chiefs manager in tact.
"Big teams all over the world make their home ground a fortress and this is what we want to achieve with FNB Stadium.
"It will of course be difficult to achieve this in just a season but it is encouraging that we have not lost a game at home for a while.
"We expect this to be a motivation for other teams as records are there to be broken but for us the motivation is to extend the unbeaten run."
Pirates are currently riding a wave of optimism following their continental exploits in the CAF Champions League in which they have managed back-to-back wins against two of Africa's biggest clubs, Al-Ahly and Zamalek, but Baxter also pointed out that Chiefs still remain Pirates' biggest rival.
"I expect both teams to have a real go at each other.
"These are the two biggest teams in the country and there is always a lot at stake.
"It is a Soweto derby, after all," Baxter added.
"We are motivated ahead of the game and once again ready to give 100 %," Baxter concluded.
Kaizer Chiefs' official website reports that the AmaKhosi will look to replicate the result from their previous meeting in which the PSL champions came out 1-0 winners.
Lehlohonolo Majoro scored the match-winning goal on that occasion as Chiefs lifted the pre-season Carling Black Label Cup.
But Baxter believes that if the supporters can rally behind the team from the opening whistle, the players won't need extra motivation.
"The supporters will come in their numbers and they will be an extra player for us.
"When they rally behind the team as they have done over the years, in particular last season, it makes a difference as it inspires the lads on the pitch," said Baxter.
Baxter will have an added incentive to play for as he hopes to keep his unblemished home record as Chiefs manager in tact.
"Big teams all over the world make their home ground a fortress and this is what we want to achieve with FNB Stadium.
"It will of course be difficult to achieve this in just a season but it is encouraging that we have not lost a game at home for a while.
"We expect this to be a motivation for other teams as records are there to be broken but for us the motivation is to extend the unbeaten run."
Pirates are currently riding a wave of optimism following their continental exploits in the CAF Champions League in which they have managed back-to-back wins against two of Africa's biggest clubs, Al-Ahly and Zamalek, but Baxter also pointed out that Chiefs still remain Pirates' biggest rival.
"I expect both teams to have a real go at each other.
"These are the two biggest teams in the country and there is always a lot at stake.
"It is a Soweto derby, after all," Baxter added.
"We are motivated ahead of the game and once again ready to give 100 %," Baxter concluded.
