Big test for title dreams of Wits, Ajax

Milpark could be the setting tonight for a revival of fading championship hopes - for either hosts Bidvest Wits or visitors Ajax Cape Town.

That's a bold statement with half the season still to play.

But a defeat for either of these Absa Premiership title contenders is likely to dump them out of the running, given Kaizer Chiefs' big lead at the top.

Wits and Ajax are tied on 23 points after 14 matches and are placed third and fourth in the table, respectively.

They have both dropped points unnecessarily and picked them up when very few people gave them a chance. So perhaps a share of the spoils in this encounter would be a satisfactory result and would keep both of them in the chasing pack.

This week marks the halfway point of the season for 11 of the 16 PSL teams, and any side with aspirations to catch Chiefs must collect maximum points at every turn.

On current form, Wits are the favourites tonight, after winning three of their last five league matches.

The Urban Warriors have struggled since being knocked out of the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals in October.

They have only managed to win on one of their previous five outings. But tonight could be a turning point.

Ajax have already beaten the Clever Boys this season - a 3-1 thumping at Athlone Stadium early in the season.

But, should their title ambitions fade , Ajax will still see this as a successful season as they never particularly set out to challenge for the premiership in this campaign.

But Wits will be left with more questions than answers. Why has Gavin Hunt not been able to bring his formula - one that won Supersport United three back-to-back championships - to Johannesburg?