Chiefs clash the big one for Pitso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, who vowed to turn the club around when he took over in December, regards tonight's Absa Premiership clash against Kaizer Chiefs as a moment that will define his return to domestic football.

Mosimane, who was sacked from his job as Bafana coach last June, has managed to lift Sundowns from the foot of the league table to 10th.

However, he is wary of taking on log leaders Chiefs, who had seven players in the national team during the Africa Cup of Nations.

"We have to double our efforts," Mosimane said about the clash at Loftus, which marks the return of Premier League action after a seven-week break.

"It is almost like playing a national team. I am fighting for credibility at Sundowns and we have a long way to go."

The gap between Sundowns and Chiefs is massive - 17 points after 16 matches and if the Brazilians intend making it into the top eight, a win is a necessity.

Amakhosi got the better of Sundowns in a league match in August at Soccer City. The 2-1 victory pushed Chiefs to the top of the table, where they have stayed since.

"I watched the tape, and the one where Sundowns won 4-1 [in the MTN8 quarterfinals], and I realised we have a big game on our hands," Mosimane said.

Johan Neeskens, the Dutchman who Mosimane replaced, was in charge during the 4-1 defeat.

While the Sundowns coach put all his cards on the table in the build-up to tonight's match, Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter played his cards close to the chest.

"Pitso has steadied the ship. The players want to prove that under him they have made some progress," said Baxter.

"For us, it is difficult to assess whether our [Bafana] players have enough in the tank for this match."

Itumeleng Khune, Tsepo Masilela, Siboniso Gaxa, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Lehlohonolo Majoro and Bernard Parker all returned to the club after Bafana were knocked out in the quarterfinal stage of the Nations Cup.

Baxter is worried that some of these players might be "a class or two below their best" against Sundowns.

"I saw [Ivory Coast midfielder] Yaya Toure in the English Premiership over the weekend after he returned from the Nations Cup and he looked like a shadow of himself.

"I doubt we will rest everyone and I doubt we will play everyone," said Baxter.

Baxter is still going for the kill against Sundowns, but believes signs of fatigue might show.

Meanwhile, Mosimane is concerned that his main striker, Katlego Mphela, did not get much game time during the tournament.

"I would have been happy with Killer getting game time.

"Now he is back at zero because my players don't like training; they like playing in these big games," Mosimane said.