The Amakhosi are taking on Orlando Pirates in what is expected to be a titanic battle in the Absa Premiership encounter on Saturday. Orlando Pirates have reached the final of the CAF Champions Cup. Similarly, Chiefs have been nominated as the Team of the Year in the 2013 SA Sports Awards. Coach Baxter believes statistics will count for nothing on Saturday.

“Pirates are coming to the game with their confidence very high. I feel we are in good shape at the moment. We have of course a challenge, Knowledge Musona will be side lined due to injury. We have to pull together in order to face the challenge head on.

I foresee an interesting game. Both teams want to win the game. Most of the Derbies are characterised by not playing because both teams go into the game not wanting to lose compared to going for a win.” said Baxter.

The Amakhosi are hosting Pirates at the 94 736 capacity FNB Stadium, the Kaizer Chiefs home base affectionately known as the Calabash, with a design inspired by the shape of an African pot, calabash;

“The players feel good to play at FNB. Home or away will not count much. We were not affected by the last away game when we played them in a 1 – 1 draw. We dominated the game in the first half of the 2nd leg of the MTN 8 in their backyard. We were unlucky to lose on the away goal rule (Chiefs lost 2 – 1 to Pirates in the two legged semis of the MTN8 Cup). It is still early in the league but a win will certainly put us in a good position,” continued the Chiefs’ Mentor.

“As a top Club, we expect to play in big games. If you are not prepared to play in this type of games then you shouldn’t be at a big Club. If you play in such important games, you know that’s a sign of success.

The mood in the camp is good. It has been good. We have recovered from the return of the National Team players. They have recuperated and gone over a hump against Free State Stars to reach the 2013 TKO semis. We want to play good football and bring smiles to our supporters.

The preparations have gone very well. We watch the players every day at training. We look at the needs of the team and not of the individual players. There are only 11 places available in the starting line up. It is more hurting for the players not to be in the starting line up or not to be on the bench in the Derby, but as I said there are only 11 places in the starting line up and only 7 can sit on the bench.

Every Derby is a different challenge. The statistics count for nothing on the day. We prepare for the game as a different challenge. It is going to be a different ball game, the players will be different, and there will probably be a different referee and weather conditions.

The supporters should just stick with their Team. At the end of the day we all want the same, good result. I urge the supporters to give the team the support as much as they can, and we will succeed together,” Baxter was speaking ahead of the big clash.

In the PSL era Chiefs have won 6 of 17 league games that they have hosted Pirates and only lost three games.