Arrows hope to sink Pirates

The KZN outfit got their season off to a torrid start, suffering a 3-1 loss to Pirates in the first match of the Absa Premiership. 

Fast forward two months and Arrows have made big strides on the pitch and find themselves in second place on the PSL log. They've won four of their six games and are four points above the Buccaneers in the first flight standings.

With this weekend's clash being a knockout match, their good form in the league will only be confident booster at best as they face Pirates in their stronghold at Orlando Stadium.

Nevertheless Arrows boss Clinton Larsen praised his team for their progress over the past two months, given that they immediately responded after their drubbing to the Buccaneers.

"We're not the same team that played Pirates in the first game, we've improved. That was a good lesson, that first hammering by Pirates. We made a lot of defensive errors and came back and worked on it. Since then we've been very solid defensively, I think one of the best in the league," Larsen said.

"We want to continue that and we pride ourselves on our organisation on keeping clean sheets and I think the players have bought into that and we're happy with the effort they're giving us."

However coach Larsen was under no illusion that Pirates would be a pushover, given the players at their disposal as well as their impressive record in knockout competitions.

"It's not only Ndoro, they've got Makola, Manyisa and Norodien - they've got an abundance of players that can hurt us so we won't focus on one player, we need to take care of them holistically," Larsen said.

While it could be argued that Arrows would have liked to continue with Absa Premiership fixtures to ride the wave of good form, Larsen admitted that the prospect of silverware in a knockout competition was enticing.

"I think it's a welcome distraction, every team is saying to themselves three games and they're in the final. We feel the same way, we want to try progress as far as we can and this gives us an opportunity to compete for silverware. You win this game and you find yourself in the quarterfinals.

"How close could it be to a final? We want to go as far as possible but we still believe that we are a work in progress. I don't think we're gelling as well as I would like but there are signs we are improving. I'm sure this cup run will give us further opportunity to develop that understanding we're looking for."

Arrows face Pirates on Sunday at 15h00. Meanwhile Maritzburg United take on Kaizer Chiefs at 20h15 on Saturday night.

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