Maritzburg United's head coach, Eric Tinkler maintained that the league is more important for his side right now, especially the upcoming two Absa Premiership clashes.
The Team of Choice are through to the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup competition after knocking out Stellenbosch FC in a penalty shoot-out.
However, as much as there is excitement around progressing in the cup competition, the Team of Choice have a tough schedule awaiting them, with their next two league fixtures against Bidvest Wits and Kaizer Chiefs.
"My priority has always been the league and we want to ensure that we finish well in the league, we have 10 very tough games coming up in the league and I felt that in this game we have to be cautious. I made seven changes; to blame the players for the performance would be harsh," Tinkler told the media after the game.
"It has obviously been in my thoughts, because the league is very important for us. Yes we have done well, yes we are away from that bottom group but it is not for that reason, it is more for targets and objectives that I have set myself and us as a team have set and these 10 games are very important, especially the next two. So we want to make sure that when we go to Wits we collect something, when we go to Chiefs we collect something," he added.
