Cappa needs to get it right against Chiefs
Still in a state of shock after suffering their first league defeat of the season to improving Black Leopads on Wednesday night, Mamelodi Sundowns must recover in time for their daunting visit to log-leaders Kaizer Chiefs at what will be an empty Soccer City on Sunday.
While Chiefs looked impressive on the attack in their 3-1 win over Golden Arrows on Wednesday, Sundowns' second team huffed and puffed as they missed out on an opportunity to go top of the table.
Another defeat this weekend won't go down well with the fans and coach Angel Cappa must come up with a plan on how they are going to overcome Chiefs, who seem to be getting things right under coach Ernst Middendorp.
Cappa fielded a weakened team made up mostly of fringe players in mid-week, but will surely resort to his best team against Amakhosi.
The one goal defeat against Leopards exposed Sundowns defensive weakness as they allowed the opposition to connect about six probing passes before James Mayinga unleashed a powerful close range shot that gave goalkeeper Andre Arendse no chance.
Basic mistakes like that are going to be severely punished by Chiefs, who created enough chances against Arrows, even if they didn't convert them into goals more often just the three times.
Against a strangely indifferent Arrows, clearly impressed with the powerful performance of promising attacker Serge Djiehoua, who opened the scoring early in the game, Middendorp replaced the big striker in the closing stages of the game, possibly thinking of Sunday's clash.
The other key area in Chiefs play was their dominance at central midfield through veterans Thabo Mooki and John Moshoeu, who was introduced in the late stages and banged in the third goal.
To counter the Chiefs midfielders, Cappa is going to have to bring Esrom Nyandoro and Godfrey Sapula back into the picture to add more muscle and dominance, which is something they lacked on Wednesday night.
In other Castle Premier League games, Santos host Black Leopards at Athlone Stadium while Tembisa Classic are at home to Ajax Cape Town at Harry Gwala Stadium at 8pm on Saturday.
Back in Sunday action, Moroka Swallows entertain Golden Arrows at Rand Stadium, Free State Stars visit bottom of the log Bush Bucks at Absa Stadium in East London and Silver Stars host Orlando Pirates in a potentially explosive game at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Full weekend's fixtures
Saturday: Santos vs Leopards (Athlone Stadium, 8pm); Classic vs Ajax (Harry Gwala Stadium, 8pm)
Sunday: Chiefs vs Sundowns (Soccer City); Swallows vs Arrows (Rand Stadium); Bucks vs FS Stars (Absa Stadium, East London); Silver Stars vs Pirates (Peter Mokaba Stadium)