Stuart Baxter, who knows all about winning a Soweto Derby, has attempted to predict what sort of match we can all expect when Kaizer Chiefs face Orlando Pirates in a DStv Premiership encounter on Saturday.
"If you look at Pirates through the years, they have a certain style no matter which coach comes in or which players they have. There are certain ethics which they uphold," the Amakhosi coach told journalist during a virtual presser.
Baxter has a record of no defeats in seven previous league meetings against the Buccaneers in his two stints at Chiefs.
"I think Chiefs are very much the same in a different. But then the coach comes in and puts in strategies and they can get a bit of a tweak. When you get to the derby, you look at your opponent and you say 'well, can we tweak something on the day to make us more unpleasant for our opponent' – we will try to do that."
What is at stake remains bragging rights and a potential CAF Champions League spot now that Mamelodi Sundowns are clear favourites to win the title.
Even when Chiefs and Pirates are fighting for scraps, Baxter said the fixture remains of huge significance in the SA football calendar.
So, what tempo can we expect?
"But what we do know is that the players will play quickly, mix their game, get behind you sometimes or play behind you. They (Pirates) have got quick players and its usually a physical game because it's a derby," Baxter explained.
"The mental part is very important. We've got to keep ourselves very calm, yet aggressive. We've got to keep ourselves focused, yet spontaneous. You don't want to get bogged down with the event, you still want to perform – and to do that you've got to not be anxious, but motivated, not fearful but inspired. So, all of those things we can work with. You know what sort of game it's gonna be. And we will throw something in like we plan do to. It can be a little tweak, but it may be that the team that manages the day best will win the game."
