Kaizer Chiefs will look to pull even further clear of the chasing pack when they host Free State Stars in an Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday.

Kick-off is at 6:00pm.

The Amakhosi are currently 13 points clear at the top of the league table with 40 points from 16 matches while their upcoming opponents are dwindling at the other end of the table.

The Ea Lla Koto are second from bottom with 15 points from 15 games, but a win over Chiefs could see them move as high as tenth on the table.

Chiefs come into this game off the back of a hard fought 1-0 win over Chippa United at the same venue this past Saturday.

Chiefs mentor, Stuart Baxter admits that his side were not at their best in that game, especially in the first 45, but they came good in the second half.

“It was tired looking performance in the first half against Chippa – we lacked real movement and venom,” said Baxter. “We changed it a little bit in the second half and as soon as we made the change we took over the game and I don’t know how we didn’t score more goals.

“I told them (at halftime) that we needed to make a change because we lacked real venom and I said that the principles we have had in the past, we need to get those back and just do them better.

“I think the boys are probably feeling the tight schedule a little bit, but in the second half they still increased the tempo, so that means they still have a little bit left in the tank.”

The Amakhosi have been in action every three days over the past month and Baxter has also hinted that he may change the squad a bit for this game especially with Willard Katsande (injured) and George Maluleke (suspended) unavailable for the tie.

“We have a few challenges here and there,” added Baxter. “We will tweak the squad a bit. We have injuries and suspensions in the squad. We will get some fresh legs in the team against Free State Stars. As always we will make changes that will maintain our formula.”

Speaking ahead of the Chiefs game, Free Stars defender Daniel Cardoso knows it will not be an easy game, especially with their position on the log, but they will be looking to limit their mistakes in defence.

“We have been lacking up front again and we have continued to misfire [in front of goal], while we have made too many mistakes at the back, that has been costing us big time,” said Cardoso before touching on the appointment of Kinnah Phiri in place of Tom Saintfiet as coach.

“Tom is a good coach and he deserved more time if I’m honest. He knew how to handle the players and I thought he was here for too short a time, but its life.

“We as players must just adapt to that, coaches come and go. We have had to adapt to a new game plan under Kinnah because when Tom was here we played the long ball forward, while now it’s more a passing game, a playing style which suits us much better I feel.”

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and Stars have met in 30 league matches since 1996. The Amakhosi have 19 wins compared to three for Ea Lla Koto, while eight matches have been drawn.

When the teams met earlier this season, the Amakhosi claimed a 1-0 win in the Free State thanks to a goal from George Lebese.