BAY Stars are hoping to intensify their league campaign race when they clash against rookies Zimbane Killers in a Safa Eastern Cape Second Division soccer match at the Rotary Stadium in Mthatha tomorrow at 1pm.
High-riding Port Elizabeth side Stars are in second position in the league's standings on 36 points with two games in hand, trailing leaders Mthatha Bucks by five points.
Stars players are going into this encounter motivated by their 3-1 victory over Nedbank Cup last 16 campaigners Tembu Royals last week, while Killers were defeated by Kokstad Liverpool in their previous match, a fortnight ago.
Stars manager Nicholas Myataza said the team would have to maintain their winning momentum in their remaining league matches if they hoped to stay in the hunt for the Second Division title.
"It's going to be a tricky game because Killers are a new team in the league and we have not played against them before, but we are ready for anything.
"Our plan is to collect all the available points, as we are in a good position on the log standings but we can't relax until we occupy the top spot."
Myataza said the team had no intentions of dropping points in any match because the league was in a crucial stage, with all the teams gearing up for the No1 position.
He said the coach had tried different combinations with the team during their training sessions in preparation for the encounter with Killers.
Stars will travel to Mthatha without injured Romano Scott and Pedro Marques but the rest of the players are available for selection.
Meanwhile, another Port Elizabeth side, Highbury, will battle it out against struggling Matta Milan in their encounter at the Ngumbela Grounds in Dutywa tomorrow at 3pm.
Highbury, who were fourth from the bottom of the log, have leap-frogged to 12th position with 16 points from 17 games after collecting maximum points in their past three matches.
Maximum points for Highbury would see them topple Zimbane Killers in 11th position and 10th-placed Cloud Nine.
Highbury coach Garth Dickinson said he was happy with the team's latest performances in the league.
"It's going to be a tough game [tomorrow] but the players are very confident at the moment. They are hungry to make sure we take this team to a top-eight position by the end of the season."
He said they would continue collecting maximum points in an attempt to narrow the gap on the top teams on the log.
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