“Maritzburg United always give us problems,” says Kaizer Chiefs striker Bernard Parker about Wednesday’s Absa Premiership clash against the Pietermaritzburg-based side. “They are very physical and they will do everything to be the first to the ball. We will have to compete with them all over the field.”

The Team of Choice host Amakhosi at Pietermaritzburg’s Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday evening (kick-off at 19:30).

Chiefs are on top of the league table with 51 points from 22 games, while Maritzburg are in tenth position with 24 points from 21 fixtures. Amakhosi won the home game 1-0, thanks to Mandla Masango’s penalty.

It will be an interesting week. Last Saturday, Chiefs played to a goalless draw against Orlando Pirates, while three days after the Maritzburg encounter Morocco’s Raja Casablanca awaits in a CAF Champions League clash in Durban.

“We showed in the Derby that if we concentrate on ourselves,” Parker reflects, “we can give the opposition problems. It will give us good momentum for Wednesday’s match, not only from a team perspective but also as an individual. We learnt a lot from that second half.”

“The game against Maritzburg is crucial,” concludes the Amakhosi striker. “We want to get the three points ahead of the Raja Casablanca match, so that our mind will be clear and we will be confident going into this Champions League encounter.”