Chippa United will be banking on home-ground advantage when they play a competitive Highlands Park in an Absa Premiership fixture at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Sunday (3.30pm).
The Port Elizabeth-based side suffered their second consecutive loss on Sunday, going down 3-2 to Black Leopards.
Chippa are second from the bottom of the log with 20 points from 23 games.
They are desperately in need of points to move up from their position on the log.
The Chilli Boys are only a point away from safety and three points clear from automatic relegation.
Prior to the recent setbacks, the team was on a roll, having managed to stay unbeaten in six matches since Clinton Larsen took over – and four of those were played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“It’s our home game so we have to make sure we do the business at home,” Larsen said.
“Highlands Park are not the best travellers.
“I think they are on 29 points so they are also not where they would like to be.
“I am sure they wanted a top-eight finish so they will be pushing for that.
“But for us it’s a game against a team I see as an equal.
“I have always said that outside of the big six, which includes Cape Town City, the other 10 teams I see as equals.
“Those are the teams that are fighting for top honours in the league.”
He said there was stiff competition among the players to make the starting 11, which kept everyone on their toes.
As coach, he also enjoys the headache of having different permutations to play around with, as it puts the team in a strong position.