Goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez is itching to get back out on the field and believes that even though The Amakhosi might be missing a number of players for the game, they should be able to get through unscathed and come back home with three much sought after points. With Santos having qualified for the ABSA Cup semifinal is mid week they could have their eye on the cup final, which could well work in Chiefs favour.

Keeping his past experiences when coming up against Santos in mind the Chiefs keeper believes that they will throw everything at Santos, and will try to use their physical prowess to their advantage. Fernandez said “it is common knowledge that Santos are a very physical team and that they will launch an aerial assault on our goal, we saw them do the same in midweek against Maritzburg in an ABSA Cup game. They are also a very physical team and usually do not waste time when they find open at goal, whether it be from close range or from distance”.

Although Santos are presently in tenth place on the PSL standings, they have had a number of players who have come to the fore this season with some outstanding displays amongst them. One is the lanky midfielder Eleadzar Rodgers, of whom Fernandez said “Rodgers has had a good season he demonstrated his goal scoring abilities in midweek when he scored a well taken header to win the game for Santos against Maritzburg United. He has really come into his own and has not looked out of place in the PSL. I find it exciting to come up against young players like him who obviously will be wanting to use the game to shine, the guys are ready for him and we feel that we can subdue him as a threat”.

Along with Rodgers, another Santos player whose star has been in the ascendancy all season long is that of striker Ervin Isaacs, who missed the mid week encounter against Maritzburg. Fernandez does though believe that should Isaacs take to the field on Sunday there is extra reason for the Chiefs rearguard to keep Isaacs from scoring, “Ervin is vying with Kaizer Junior for the top scorer award and although Kaizer will not be in the game, Isaacs could well start up front for them and as a team we would like to help our team mate by ensuring that Isaacs has a frustrating time out and does not come close to finding the back of the net”.

For Rowen the game against Santos presents him with the chance of coming up against his former mentor and rival Roger Da Sa from his time with Wits University, of his long standing friendly rivalry with Da Sa Rowen said. “I have always looked up to Roger he gave me a lot of advice when I was an up and coming goalkeeper, so playing against his team gets me fired up because after the game once we win I love to call him and just let him hear about it for days afterwards”.

With four games to go Rowen has his eye on returning on Monday morning with three points, and he is hopeful that three points against Santos this coming weekend will take Chiefs along the way towards gaining three more when they take on Orlando Pirates in a weeks’ time. While Santos might have one eye on their up coming ABSA Cup semifinal, it could well work to Chiefs favour as Rowen is still confident that Chiefs can achieve a top three finish in 2006 – 2007.