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Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs go in search of a sixth successive league win when they take on Ajax Cape Town at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday.
A scintillating run of form from Amakhosi - two wins before Christmas, and three in the new year, has taken Steve Komphela's side to second position on the Premiership standings.
Ajax on the other hand have battled since coming back from the mid-season break, having been thrashed 5-0 by Bidvest Wits before going down 2-0 to bitter rivals Cape Town City and then drawing 1-1 with Polokwane City.
They will have to go into battle on Saturday without captain Travis Graham, who picked up a fourth yellow card and a subsequent one game ban against Polokwane.
Grant Margeman, a shining light of late for the Urban Warriors from an attacking midfield role, will also miss the game as he is away on national U-20 team duty.
Ajax boss Stanley Menzo concedes the Soweto side have the advantage in terms of experience but says his team need to capitalise on any opportunities they get.
"I think the individual skills of (the Chiefs) players (are a threat) - they are very experienced and mature so they know when and where they can hurt us - we have to be aware of that," he told the Ajax website.
"We can't give too much space away, we have to keep the field very tight so to speak and, when we get our chances, we have to be more efficient. If we get five chances (for example) we have to score two at least. That is something we have to do.
"They are a good team, a team with a lot of confidence at the moment. It will be a fight and in this fight we have to play good football."
Chiefs coach Steve Komphela, meanwhile, is remaining focused and not getting carried away by a five-match winning streak.
"Our supporters, are we happy for them. They are coming in numbers and they leave stadiums with a good thing," he said after the 1-0 defeat of Highlands Park last weekend.
"Looking at the log, one [game] at a time and that is how we look at it. Five (wins) in a row, we wish we could get more. We shouldn't be satisfied."
Chiefs also have a player out through a one match suspension - influential goal-scoring central defender Lorenzo Gordinho. But fellow centre-back Eric Mathoho is back from his ban.
Former Ajax man George Maluleka has recovered from a knock meanwhile, Siphiwe Tshabalala, who took a blow against Highlands Park, would have had to prove his fitness this week; and as yet there has been no indication he will be ruled out the match in the Mother City.
Amakhosi won the first round fixture 2-0 with goals from Gordinho and George Lebese.
Kick off is at 20:15.
