A Kaizer Chiefs on the rebound will play to prove coach Steve Komphela deserves his position, says captain Siphiwe Tshabalala ahead of tomorrow's Telkom Knockout semifinal Soweto derby rematch at FNB Stadium. Ahead of last week Saturday's 3-1 league defeat by Pirates, Komphela had described the Buccaneers as wounded tigers.Chiefs find themselves on the rebound from that defeat, although also buoyed by a 3-1 midweek league victory against Golden Arrows at FNB.Chiefs have lost just once in the PSL and are in fifth place after 10 matches. But an alarmingly flat 1-0 defeat in the MTN8 final against Ajax Cape Town in September, and Pirates' domination on Saturday, have raised question marks over last season's league and cup double winners' big-match temperament under Komphela, who replaced Stuart Baxter in the off-season.Tshabalala said he and his team-mates were aware a victory against their traditional rivals would go a long way to removing question marks over the coach."We respect Bra Steve, and enjoy working with him," the Bafana Bafana midfielder said."He's a quality coach. I think he just needs to be given a chance. We reached the MTN8 final - sadly we lost it. In the league we're in the top five and have only lost once."So, I think coach Steve needs to be given an opportunity. But as players, too, we need to fight for him and ourselves as well."This is a game that requires mental and physical strength, and one has to be smart as well."We'll play for our coach, and show everyone that he deserves to be coach of Kaizer Chiefs."Chiefs meet a Pirates side who have finally shown their first sign of consistency in the league this season with their first back-to-back victories of 2015-2016.The CAF Confederation Cup finalists followed up their derby win with Wednesday night's 2-1 away victory against Ajax Cape Town."The coach told us we have to change the approach. It's just a mental thing," Bucs midfielder Thabo Rakhale said."I believe it was just a matter of luck. The past two games we've managed to score goals, before we weren't converting those chances."Rakhale does not believe a Chiefs defence that has lost central defender Tefu Mashamaite from last season has lost any of its edge.Amakhosi have conceded just eight goals in 10 games, but looked brittle when confronted with the skills and running of Bucs forward Kermit Erasmus on Saturday."For me they have one of the best defences in the league," Rakhale said. "It was just that it was our day, and we were giving our best."Looking at the defensive combinations they have, all of them are quality players. Come Saturday's game I think we will see a different performance from them."Both sides are expected to bring back frontline players who were rested or rotated in midweek.For Chiefs Siboniso Gaxa, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Camaldine Abraw seem certain to return.Pirates should bring back Ayanda Gcaba, Mpho Makola and Thamsanqa Gabuza...