Cavin Johnson said on the Platinum Stars website that Orlando Pirates, their opponents Tuesday in an Absa Premiership clash in Soweto, might have benefited from their postponed weekend fixture against Bidvest Wits.
But the Dikwena coach could also have a rare advantage - the Buccaneers line-up. His counterpart, Muhsin Ertugral, had already named his starting XI two hours before a league encounter that was cancelled due to security concerns at the Wits University grounds on Saturday night.
The coach had picked Brighton Mhlongo in goal, with Justice Chabalala, Ayanda Gcaba, Happy Jele and Thabo Matlaba as his back four.
Oupa Manyisa, Abbubaker Mobara, Issa Sarr and Mpho Makola were Ertugral’s preferred options in midfield, while Bernard Morrison would have featured in a supporting role for deadly forward Tendai Ndoro.
Johnson didn’t discuss the likely Pirates line-up, perhaps because of his uncertainty that it would remain unchanged or the fact that the interviewer didn’t think to bring it up. His concern was bouncing back from a shock home defeat against Premier League rookies Baroka FC at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Pirates were scheduled to take on Wits several hours later, but instead got the night off.
“We have got to make sure we recover well,” said Johnson.
“We have to try our best put up a better performance against Pirates.
“My players took it (the loss) badly among themselves. It’s a good sign for me because I can work on something.
“Pirates have been playing well and their game got postponed, so that means they are a lot fresher than us and we are going to have to deal with that.”
Dikwena have a single victory from their three league matches so far this season, a slow start for a side that finished the previous campaign in third place above Pirates, who were four positions below.
Johnson earned a credible draw against another Soweto giant in Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium last week and he will be hoping for all three points when he returns to the same neighbourhood.
“We just have to grind in every game that we play. You know how it is with Pirates, they will always try to redeem themselves against the big teams. They are one of the top teams at the moment. We lost to a side (Baroka) even though we knew their deficiency, but never capitalised,” said Johnson.
“We just need to ask ourselves if we really are capable of playing against these teams, yes or no.”
Kick-off is 7.30pm.
Follow Mazola Molefe on Twitter@superjourno
The Star