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Cape Town - The Titans may be the reigning Sunfoil Series champions, but they will not be going into their opening game against the Knights at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday thinking about their success, according to assistant coach Mandla Mashimbyi.
The Pretoria-based team are aiming to play it game-by-game as they bid to find the consistency that brought them the four-day prize last year.
“We don’t want to look too much at our success, we acknowledge it yes, but it’s not going to be something that drives us,” Mashimbyi said. “Our goal is to just play every game on its own and try and do the best we can.”
The Titans, who have a new coach in Proteas wicketkeeping legend Mark Boucher, also know all too well about early-season momentum.
They won their first two games last year and the first three out of five in total, before three more wins in the second half of the campaign took them to the coveted prize.
“Momentum is the only currency and we’ll hope to get some of that going early,” Mashimbyi adds.
From amongst their new signings, Malusi Siboto is expected to debut, while national opener Dean Elgar will also get a run. But Morne Morkel has been given an extra week off before he returns from injury.
Knights coach Nicky Boje, meanwhile, is looking ahead to getting going.
It is a new beginning in many ways for the Central Franchise, who have a new captain in the form of rising young batting star Theunis de Bruyn to lead them. “Everyone is really excited that the new season is finally here,” Boje said. “We had a good pre-season, some good quality games and outdoor practice in recent weeks, so we’re really looking for it.”
Other new faces that are included in their match day squad are Proteas fast bowler Marchant de Lange and another former national all-rounder, Robin Peterson.
The pair will give them some much needed experience, while the likes of Mbulelo Budaza and Diego Rosier will no doubt be buoyed by their showing in the Africa T20 Cup, where they helped Northern Cape reach the final this past weekend.
“We’ve got a quality squad of 20 players and we can select anyone,” added Boje, whose team ended third in the four-day format last term. “But I think we now have more experience and that will help us as well.
“It’s always a tough challenge going up to Centurion, but we’ll be prepared for it.”
Squads:
Titans
Henry Davids (captain), Qaasim Adams, Dean Elgar, Junior Dala, Heinrich Klaasen, Heino Kuhn, Aiden Markram, Grant Mokoena, Lungi Ngidi, Rowan Richards, Malusi Siboto, Shaun von Berg, David Wiese
Knights
Theunis de Bruyn (captain), Mbulelo Budaza, Marchant de Lange, Dillon du Preez, Michael Erlank, Luthando Mnyanda, Duane Olivier, Robin Peterson, Diego Rosier, Rudi Second, Lotli Sesele, Pite van Biljon, Shadley van Schalkwyk
