Both sides would like to consolidate their places as the race for places in the Top 8 intensifies.

It has a been a few weeks of contrasts for the two clubs, as Cosmos have hit a purple patch, especially in the cup, where they have reached the semifinal of the competition Chiefs have been on a down, and after getting knocked out of the cup, they were hammered 3-0 by second from bottom Black Leopards.

The win moved Leopards a few places up the table, but Amakhosi’s pride as been seriously dampened, and they need to get back on track again.

In recent years Cosmos have become very much the enemy, and any match between the two clubs is usually a bruising affair.

This match is expected to be no different. The teams have so far met twice this season, first in the final of the Coca Cola Cup, where Cosmos won 1-0, through a goal from Tico-Tico Bucuane.

Two weeks later they met in the league, and it was Chiefs that outplayed Cosmos, beating Ezenkosi 2-0 with the goals coming from Shoes Moshoeu and David Radebe.

But Wednesday’s match will likely be won in midfield, and area that is always keenly contested in encounters between these two clubs.

And the men that could influence proceedings are Stanton Fredericks for Amakhosi, while Teboho Mokoena will be the key for Cosmos.

Both men played in Bafana Bafana’s recent win over Madagascar, and will in all liklehood oppose each other on this occasion.

Fredericks has scored four times so far this season, while Mokoena scored his first of the season last weekend. And what a goal it turned out to be, as it came in the 90th minute as Cosmos ousted Silver Stars from the cup.

Fredericks has the ability to turn matches and is the vital link in the Chiefs engine room, while Mokoena will be expected to break down any moves that Chiefs want to start. It would be fair to say that the advantage lay with Chiefs in this one, as while they are in the cup, Cosmos will have only an eye on any league match they play.

Though apart from Mokoena, Malawian striker Russell Mwafulwira is also in top form, the tall striker having scored in each of his last five matches for Cosmos.

Last five results:

Cosmos


16/03 Bush Bucks A P 1-1 Mwafulwira 10


22/03 Golden Arrows A A 2-0 Mwafulwira 77, Bucuane 79


30/03 Sundowns H P 1-0 Mwafulwira 70


06/04 Leicester City A A 4-1 Bucuane 24,25 Mwafulirwa 54, Ntsume

63


19/04 Silver Stars A A 2-1 Mwafulwira 51, Mokoena 90

Current log position: 10

Top Scorer: Kanyenda 11 (7 league, 4 Coke)

Last five results:

Chiefs


08/03 Hellenic A P 3-1 Macamo 30, Shoes 68, Musasa 82


15/03 Orlando Pirates H P 2-0 Moshoeu 72, Radebe 79


22/03 FC Sporting H A 5-0 Nzama 6, Niemach 50, 64, 84 Richards 86


06/04 Ajax Cape Town A A 0-0 (4-5 on penalties)


02/04 Black leopards H P 0-3

Current log position: 8

Top Scorer: Kabamba Musasa10 (8 league, 2 Coke)