Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela expects his players to draw strength from their recent run of poor form and bounce back against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
Chiefs have failed to win any of their last four games in regulation time, and needed a penalty shootout to overcome Maritzburg United in the Telkom Knockout before settling for two league draws, against Orlando Pirates and Baroka FC.
The Amakhosi were then eliminated on penalties by Free State Stars at the quarter-final stage of the Telkom Cup - although they face a Sundowns side also struggling for form.
Pitso Mosimane's charges come into their PSL clash against the Soweto giants at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday after losing to SuperSport United in the cup, also on penalties.
"No matter how bad it gets or how bad the situation is - understand you have a moral obligation to make the game an instrument to get us to improve," said Komphela as quoted by KickOff ahead of the weekend's clash.
"The game is an instrument to make us better people, no matter how bad it can get. You might get hammered by five but how you come out is going to teach someone a lesson about a setback.
"How you hold your chin high when it is raining is a lesson. People learn from it. Even in your worst predicament you get stronger from your own weakness."
Both teams will be looking to keep apace with Bidvest Wits who sit comfortably atop the PSL standings by one point, with two games in hand.
Komphela's men have registered 15 points, one point behind The Clever Boys with Masandawana on a mere four points having played less games due to their CAF Champions League commitments.
Kick off is at 15:30.