“The games are starting to roll thick and fast,” Steve Komphela points out, as he looks ahead at Kaizer Chiefs’ short trip to Bidvest Stadium to play in an Absa Premiership fixture against title contender Bidvest Wits on Tuesday, 9 February 2016 (kick-off is at 19:30).

“But we have it all in our plan. We knew that at some point we would be faced with this scenario.”

Wits returned to winning ways after two matches without a victory by beating Golden Arrows 2-0 away on Tuesday, 2 February.

Komphela refers to the short break between Saturday’s 3-2 win over Maritzburg United and Tuesday’s Wits encounter.

“It is all about preparation,” adds the Chiefs coach. “We have a group of professionals. Each game is used as preparation for the next match.”

Amakhosi are placed fourth on the Absa Premiership log with 32 points from 18 matches. “There are still 12 more games to contest,” repeats a highly motivated Komphela, while looking at the Clever Boys’ second position on the log with 36 points from 18 matches. “Twelve games mean that 36 points are still available in this marathon that the league title race is.”

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and Wits have met in 59 league matches since 1985. Amakhosi have 29 wins compared to 11 for the Clever Boys, while 19 matches have been drawn.

“Tsepo is ruled out of this one due to bookings,” confirms Komphela about the suspension of full-back Tsepo Masilela, because of having accumulated four bookings. “Xulu was sent to hospital for observation on Saturday. We are monitoring him and Lebese with the hope that they can beat the clock and make it for the Wits clash.”

Siyanda Xulu was stretchered off the pitch with a concussion during the Maritzburg encounter after a clash of heads, while George Lebese felt a niggling pain in his groin.

“We are ready for Wits,” assures Komphela. “We want to keep the winning momentum, even though we will be playing a side that’s on the same mission as us, to close the gap with log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.”