Kaizer Chiefs upped the tempo in their preparations for their up coming DStv Premiership game against Chippa United, with a number of intense training sessions in the past couple of days as they get ready to face Gavin Hunt and his charges.

Amakhosi will take on the Chilli Boys at 17h30 at FNB Stadium on Saturday, in a game in which coach Stuart Baxter will be hoping for his team to collect the three points and climb up the table.

For Chiefs, games against Chippa United have always been feisty clashes. With this being the 19^th time the teams will square off in a league clash, Chiefs hold a slight edge over Chippa winning eight games to six while two games have been drawn.

While Chippa are five games without a win, Chiefs midfielder Phathutshedzo Nange is still expecting a fierce battle on Saturday.

“We are expecting a tough game,” says Nange. “They are a good team and we will have to fight hard for a win. There is no such a thing as a bad team in the DStv Premiership and we are ready for the game.”

The midfielder is also eager to continue and build on Chiefs’ performance from their last game against AmaZulu where he proved to be a problem for the hosts in the 1-1 draw that took place before the FIFA international break.

“We take with us the performance from the AmaZulu game into Saturday’s clash,” adds Nange.  “Hopefully we can draw on that and get the three points from the game.”

Last season when the teams met, the away side were the winners on each occasion with the side trading 1-0 wins. The last five games between the sides have also produced a winner with Chiefs winning three while the last drawn match between them was a 0-0 stalemate with Chiefs as hosts on 10 November 2018.

Adding to the special nature of clashes between the teams, current Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter’s first season at the helm of Chiefs during his first spell in charge in 2012-13, saw Chippa feature in their inaugural season in the top-flight.

Back then, Chiefs did a double over Chippa, winning both games home and away. The first league clash between the teams on 29 September 2012 saw Chiefs win the game 2-0. Amakhosi followed that up with another 2-0 win on 6 March 2013.

During his first spell in charge of Chiefs, Stuart Baxter won all four of his league clashes against Chippa United, including his final league game in charge of Chiefs in that spell which was against Chippa on the final day of the 2014-15 season. That clash was a 2-0 win away from home for Chiefs who had already been crowned league champions before the game which took place on 9 May 2015.

Chiefs will be hoping to end a four-game winless run in the league and make head way up the table with a 9^th overall victory against Chippa, in what will be the 9^th time they will be hosting them in a league game. Victory for Chiefs will be their 5^th in 9 home league games against Chippa.

The game will kick off at 17h30 at FNB Stadium. It will be live on SuperSport Channel 202.