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Johannesburg - "Horses for courses" was how Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter explained his team's comprehensive 3-0 Premiership win over Bidvest Wits University at Johannesburg's Milpark Stadium on Wednesday night.
"Chiefs' style is best suited to an expansive pitch so that we have the space to employ our attacking style," Baxter said.
"But we took into account the compact nature of the playing surface at Milpark and adapted our tactics accordingly.
"It worked well and we were not only able to contain our opponents but also remain on the look-out for the chance to counter-attack at all times, resulting in us securing three goals and coming close to scoring on a number of other occasions."
But in keeping with the "horses for courses" approach, Baxter said they would require a totally different approach.
"In the first instance, the high-profiled derby with Pirates is always an extremely emotional affair for all those concerned and quite often the unexpected occurs and makes a mockery about any pre-conceived notions.
"We will obviously take note of this in our planning and prepare accordingly as best we can.
"Also the playing surface for the Pirates game will be different to that against Wits and this is another factor to take into consideration."
Baxter said he was particularly pleased by the scoring efforts of Bernard Parker and Eric Mathoho against Wits, particularly as Parker was running into his best form after a frustrating period of injuries.
"Parker's second goal was a gem and it's clear he is now not far off his best form.
"As for Mathoho scoring with a superb header, it's always nice when a defender shows he can provide goals as well as preventing them."
And when it comes to formulating the line-up for the eagerly-awaited Pirates game, Baxter will surely sticky to his "horses for courses" dictum.
In contrast to Baxter, Wits coach Gavin Hunt was uncharacteristically silent after his team's defeat, replying to questions from after-match interviewers with "no, I've got nothing to say".
Wits has suffered three defeats in their last five matches.
