Richards Bay co-coach Papi Zothwane: We won't allow Kaizer Chiefs to bounce back at our expense

The Natal Rich Boyz are in 12th place on the Betway Premiership standings with just 20 points from their opening 18 games.

They are just five points clear of the relegation/promotion play-off place and eight clear of bottom-side Magesi and come into this game on the back of defeats to Stellenbosch and Orlando Pirates.

Speaking ahead of the game, an upbeat Zothwane explained that it will be a difficult encounter against a Chiefs team looking to bounce back from their recent Soweto derby defeat.

He said in the Sowetan: "We are very confident that we can get points from Chiefs although we are expecting a very difficult match, especially because we don't know which starting XI will pitch after their last loss against Pirates.

"We are ready and we want to go to 23 points and boost our survival hopes."

Zothwane added that while they haven't had the best preparations for the tie, he is eager for a home win to make the supporters happy.

"The preparations for the Chiefs game haven't been the best of travelling. Yesterday [on Sunday] we were traveling and today [Monday] it's only recovery," he said.

"We are playing against a very big team that has just lost two games in a row, obviously they will want to bounce back, but we won't allow them to bounce back at our expense. We haven't won at home since December when we beat AmaZulu, so we want to win and make our supporters happy."