MUTARE - Mutare City Rovers gaffer Taku Shariwa believes his team has what it takes to derail Highlanders’ Castle Lager Premiership title hopes when the two clash Barbourfields on Thursday.

Highlanders desperately need to beat Mutare City Rovers to put back on track their diminishing Premiership title hopes while the Mutare municipal club badly needs to start collecting points to evade the dreaded chop.

The relegation haunted Mutare outfit coach reckons the gulf in depth between the two teams but thinks his club will have the advantage of being under less pressure to win the match than their opponents.  

In an interview on the sidelines of their training session in Mutare, Shariwa said Highlanders have been playing below expectations and that could work in their favour.

“Highlanders are a big team than us. They have been playing below par and facing them at this juncture is an advantage to us. We can beat them in their own backyard.

“We are not intimidated by their status. I think we need the three points more than them.

“It is sad that teams have been complaining about biased officiating and we can only pray and hope that we will also not be subjected to it.

“We need to swop positions with Tsholotsho and playing against them here at Sakubva is an advantage to us. We really need to maximise on that,” said Shariwa.

Saturday: Bulawayo City FC v Hwange FC (Barbourfields Stadium 1500hrs); ZPC Kariba FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC (Nyamhunga Stadium 1500hrs); Chicken Inn FC v Chapungu FC (Luveve Stadium 1500hrs); Caps United FC v FC Platinum (National Sports Stadium 1500hrs SS):

Sunday: Triangle United FC v Highlanders FC (Gibbo Stadium 1500hrs); How Mine FC v Harare City FC (Luveve Stadium 1500hrs); Border Strikers FC v Dynamos FC (Dulivhadzimo Stadium 1500hrs); Mutare City Rovers FC Vs Tsholotsho FC (Sakubva Stadium 1500hrs SS):