High-flying Baxter tries to keep Chiefs' feet on the ground

PSL leaders Kaizer Chiefs went back to work yesterday for the first time after the festive season break with coach Stuart Baxter telling them to forget all the talk about breaking records and being runaway title favourites and instead get "back to basics".

"I've told the players it is about getting back down to hard work and doing the same things that have got us into the lead as best we can," the coach said.

"We want to deliver the same quality we have so far this season.

"We must forget about records and hype and talk rather about our performances on the pitch. It is just a question of knuckling down to hard work."

Baxter has to work without Nhlanhla Khuzwayo, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Mandla Masango, Mulomowandau Mathoho and Bernard Parker, who are away on national team duty. And while Baxter said it would be difficult to do without them over the next weeks, he will have to soldier on.

"The key is to see what they will be like when they are back. It could be that they all have a good experience with Bafana at the Africa Cup of Nations finals and come back really buoyed, or they will have their tails between their legs," the Englishman said.

"It is only really when they get back that we can decide whether they slot right back in or need time to recover a little."

Baxter welcomed new signing David Zulu for the first time, saying he planned to fit the former Chippa United striker into the club's plans as quickly as possible.

Willard Katsande and Kgotso Moleko are back from injury, while Katlego Mphela is undergoing further tests as he recovers from the broken foot suffered at the start of the season.

Baxter got back from an overseas trip himself on Tuesday.