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Lions, Knights focus on Johannesburg task

Cape Town - Lions coach Geoffrey Toyana concedes there is little point worrying about what the other franchising are doing if they are unable to do their final Sunfoil Series job correctly against the Knights at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg starting on Thursday.

Both teams, as well as all the others, will be keeping close tabs on what is happening elsewhere as the curtain prepares to come down on one of the closest domestic four-day races in history.

“The biggest focus for us is on what we need to do as opposed to having eyes in other places, so that’s where the focus will be, on us implementing our skill levels correctly,” Toyana said.

Just over 10 points separates the fifth-placed home side from the top-of-the-table Titans, who are hosting the Warriors in their last game.

All the teams will be hoping the champions slip up as they try and overhaul them at the summit. “It’s that type of a weekend where the winner takes all,” Toyana, whose side beat the Warriors last week said. “We gave ourselves a chance with that result in East London and we’ll carry a lot of that confidence into this game.

“We are at home this week and in very familiar surroundings. We do understand the magnitude of this game, not just for us, but all the franchises will be feeling the same way.”

Toyana’s Knights counterpart Nicky Boje agreed that even though their eyes may be elsewhere, the players needed to keep focus on what they had to do heading into the match.

“You always look, but the main focus will have to be on getting our processes correct,” he said. “That’s what we’ll be aiming to do this weekend.”

The Central franchise are the closest challengers to the Titans as they sit second, just over two points adrift.

“All three matches will be played in an attacking mindset and all three games will be like finals, so it’s going to be an exciting finish,” Boje added.

There are two unfamiliar faces in the Knights squad with uncapped Driaan Bruwer and Thabo Masheshemane drafted in, while the Lions have named the same squad from seven days ago.

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