Goal.com

27 Sep 2012 1:38:00 PM

Plucky Chippa United are next up for league leaders Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs will seek to maintain their excellent start to the new Absa Premiership season when they host Chippa United at Soccer City on Saturday night.

The AmaKhosi hold a three-point lead at the top of the table after four wins and a draw from their opening five games, giving early-season thoughts of a first League championship since 2004/05.

There is a long way to go though and whether they can maintain their title charge over the coming months remains to be seen.

They will expect to sweep aside newly-promoted Chippa United, despite the Cape Town club picking up their first-ever top-flight win against Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday.

The form of striker Bernard Parker has been crucial to them, his seven League goals almost double what he managed in the entire 2011/12 season.

But coach Stuart Baxter is still urging caution, saying his players and fans should not get carried away after just five games.

“We need to continue working hard and addressing some of the grey areas. It is still early days before people can start talking about Chiefs being favourites. We are leading with only five points and in football that margin is not huge,” the coach said. “I have seen in some league that I have worked in teams leading by seven points early but lose the momentum. It is important that we keep the momentum. Teams are going to get more difficult as we go along and mentally we need to be prepared for the battles ahead.”

Chiefs will be without injured stars, defenders Morgan Gould, Siboniso Gaxa and Tsepo Masilela, midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi and striker Sakhile Hlongwa

Chippa were jubilant after their 2-1 win over Celtic, but in truth it was a game they should have lost.

Had Celtic had any form in front of goal they would have romped home, but Chippa rode their luck and collected the points.

But having now taken a victory and two draws from their last three games, they will feel they are settling in nicely to life in the top-flight.

This will be a huge test of their skill and mental strength, but coach Roger Sikhakhane will certainly not have to motivate his players to perform. Victory here would right their names into the history books.