Kaizer Chiefs will tighten their defence for Wednesday night's Premier Soccer League clash with Ajax Cape Town in Rustenburg.
Left back David Kannemeyer, who made sure his side of the pitch had no leaks in Saturday's Coca-Cola Cup semifinal at Newlands, felt Chiefs had allowed the Ajax players "a bit too much room down the middle".
The Cape club were bundled out of the cup, but would have taken heart from the number of clear openings they had created in the second stanza. Ajax fluffed at least three easy scoring chances from around the penalty spot.
Chiefs were let off the hook by their hosts' rank bad finishing, but if allowed similar leeway in the heart of the defence on Wednesday night, Ajax will fancy their chances of a crucial away win.
However, slack defending apart, Chiefs can still call on their array of attacking players to do the business at the other end. Star midfielder Jabu Pule was below his best in the Cape, but could well inspire this time around. Chiefs could strike it rich as star Ghana defender Anthony Baffoe misses Wednesdy night's match due to a knee injury picked up while dealing almost singlehandedly with the Amakhosi attack at the weekend.
Zimbabwe international Thulani Ncube is a useful replacement, but there can be no denying the influence Baffoe has had on the youthful Ajax side since his arrival about two months ago. Ncube has big boots to fill.
Ajax coach Gordon Igesund thinks he'll be "okay" at the back, but is hoping all the hard work done with his strike force on the training pitch will eventually pay off. There has not been much wrong with Igesund's tactics. And even when they are not at their best, Ajax are normally good for a couple of scoring breaks. It has been more a lack of composure and flawed technique that have led to his side's poor return in the goals for column.
But the fault does not only lie at the feet of the strikers. The Ajax playing formation encourages runs from deep. Igesund's midfielders are therefore under pressure to come up with their share of goals. Igesund believes given time his young charges would come to grips with the pace of top-flight football.
Kannemeyer saw it differently. "It's the pressure," said the former Ajax star on Tuesday. "There are too many youngsters in their side. When I started out as a youngster in the pro ranks there were a number of top class professionals around me. I know from my time with Ajax that they could never handle pressure-cooker situations. They are even worse away from home. They will be very nervous."
But will the Amakhosi be any better in defence?
"We know what to do this time round. The boys slacked off a bit in the second half of the cup match and we could so easily have been punished.
"But we'll be a bit more wary of their style of play, especially the long ball to Nathan (Paulse), who is quite tall and has an awkward style."
Paulse did give the Chiefs defence a tough time in the air, but his teammates failed to take advantage of his knockdowns. "We might not win all the balls in the air, but it is equally important to secure the second ball. That's where the scoring chances lie," said Kannemeyer.
The rugged Amakhosi defender had one of his better outings in the famous gold and black on Saturday. His ferocious battle with speedy Ajax right wing Rowan Hendricks was one of the highlights of the semifinal.
The pair came close to blows on a number of occasions. But the streetwise Kannemeyer stood his ground and dealt comfortably with whatever Hendricks conjured up. He's looking forward to round two.
"We had quite a running battle throughout the match. But it is the kind of scrap I relish. You have to be on your toes to deal with a player of Hendricks's ability.
"Getting to the final of the Coca-Cola Cup has had a tremendously positive effect on the club. But we need to add the consistency now. Another win over Ajax would be just the tonic."
Saturday was only the second time in eight outings that Chiefs had triumphed over the Urban Warriors. But that's over a period of four seasons. The Amakhosi feel they currently have the edge, having won two out of the past three.
"It somehow buried the myth that Ajax are our hoodoo team. That's all in the mind," said Kannemeyer.