Nabi calls for complete focus against Gallants

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi wants to see a better mental approach from his team when they welcome improving Marumo Gallants to the FNB Stadium on Saturday, 26 April.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

Current form:

The Glamour Boys are in a battle to finish in the Betway Premiership's top eight after picking up just three points from their last five matches.

Amakhosi weren't at their best in a 0-0 draw with Chippa United on 19 April, which extended their winless run in the league to five outings.

Nabi's side currently occupy eighth place in the standings on 31 points, although the Chilli Boys (9th), Golden Arrows (10th) and Magesi (11th) are breathing down their necks, with the four teams separated by just two points.

The only avenue left open to Chiefs in their pursuit of Caf football is the Nedbank Cup and they will face arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the final on 10 May.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa are only four points adrift of the Soweto giants, but their focus is on surviving the drop as they're by no means safe yet.

However, there has been an upturn in results since Abdeslam Ouaddou arrived at the club and they opened up a four-point gap to SuperSport United (15th) after playing out to a 1-1 draw with Abafana Bes'thende on 19 April.

Ouaddou's side are now unbeaten in their last four games and find themselves level with Richards Bay on 27 points, but below them on goal difference in 13th spot.

What was said:

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi

"We took lessons from this game (against Chippa United). We even discussed all week about this game that we must be ready and focus on Chippa because it will be difficult.

"We tried to prepare our players mentally. The smart players, if they make one mistake, they can't repeat the same mistake. Now we understand that if we don't prepare 100 per cent mentally we can't win any game."

Marumo Gallants coach Abdeslam Ouaddou

"We are breathing a little bit but we are not safe because you can see that gap. You can see all these teams, Supersport and all these teams are in the same pocket.

"Two or three points and it happens quickly... We need at least two wins to be safe but it is not finished."

Players to watch:

Kaizer Chiefs - Wandile Duba is still the club's top scorer in the league with five goals despite being left out of the squad for seven straight games between 1 February and 12 March. The 20-year-old winger started against Chippa last time out and had perhaps Chiefs' best chance to open the scoring, but he glanced a free header straight at Stanley Nwabali after being picked out by Gaston Sirino's fine cross.

Marumo Gallants - Junior Dion has enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Bahlabane Ba Ntwa after struggling for game time with AmaZulu. The 31-year-old striker, who joined the Free State outfit in January, opened the scoring against Arrows with a well-taken goal, taking his tally on loan to three from seven games. He could have made it 2-0 at the start of the second half, but sent a header just wide of the right post from a corner.

Head-to-Head: (Last Five Betway Premiership Meetings)

Matches - 5

Chiefs wins - 2

Gallants wins - 0

Draws - 3