JOHANNESBURG - Mamelodi Sundowns are looking to wrap up the Absa Premiership as soon as Wednesday.
The Brazilians take on their Nedbank Cup semifinal conquerors Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium (7.30pm) knowing that victory will put them in line to securing a record eighth Premier Soccer League title.
Top of the table with 55 points from 27 matches, Pitso Mosimane's team can only be stalled in their quest for glory by second-placed Orlando Pirates who host Bidvest Wits at an empty Orlando Stadium at the same time Sundowns take on the team of Choice. The Buccaneers are six points behind having played the same number of matches.
READ MORE: Sundowns stunned by Maritzburg
While he has been speaking about the importance of wrapping up the title as soon as possible given the looming Champions League group stage matches, Mosimane is not putting his team under undue pressure.
"We must at least get a point, if we don't win," Mosimane said, clearly still smarting from the shock 3-1 loss to Maritzburg in the cup.
"So we won't be emotional, we've got three games from which to get six points."
Yet such is his passion for success that Mosimane views Wednesday's match as highly crucial.
“It is an important game for us, A very, very important game for us. We have to do whatever we have to do to win the game."
Given what transpired at the weekend, it is clear that part of the 'whatever' that Sundowns have to do is avoid being complacent.
As outright favourites, Sundowns looked well on their way to a cruise into the final when Garston Sirino put them ahead with the game a mere two minutes old.
But they failed to build on that great start and a Sirino sending off saw the wheels come off and they ended up suffering a humiliating 3-1 loss.
"Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose!" L.B
➖
Throw your hands in the air if you're behind us 👆
➖ #ForeverYellow #Sundowns pic.twitter.com/VaDw5rSxOr
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) April 24, 2018
It is a defeat that has left him pointing to the fact that the league title is more valuable.
This despite him having previously made it clear that his team was chasing after every silverware. He has, however, vowed to strive for a clean sweep next time around,
“We'll go for it again. It is not easy but we will try and wrap it (the league title). Ask Manchester City (the Champions of English Premier League). Do you pick any of the FA Cup, Champions League or the league? You don’t . But these things happen in football. We wanted to go to the final but it did not happen and we must accept it."
"I think they (Maritzburg) need the final. Congratulations to them. They play different and they are awkward,” Mosimane elaborated.
The need for Sundowns to win on Wednesday is made all the more urgent by the fact that they face potential banana skins in their next two matches,
First up will be relegation-haunted Ajax Cape Town in Atteridgeville before they wrap the season with a trip to tricky Bloemfonetin Celtic.
With Pirates breathing down their necks, Mosimane knows just how important it is to beat a Maritzburg side that could well be on honeymoon following the weekend victory that sees them in a cup final for the first time in their history.
He probably won't admit it, but you can bet the Sundowns coach Mosimane is currently of the view revenge is a dish best served hot, and not cold as the saying goes.