KNOCK-OUT TIME FOR DOLPHINS AND WARRIORS

THE Sunfoil Dolphins and Warriors clash in a virtual Momentum One-Day Cup knockout

THE Sunfoil Dolphins and Warriors clash in a virtual Momentum One-Day Cup knockout at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.

Defeat will be detrimental to either team, in particular the host, whose elimination will be confirmed.

The Dolphins are bottom of the log standings with a points tally of 12, six shy of the Warriors in the second play-off position with two games to play.

"We really are in a must-win situation now," said coach Lance Klusener. "It's going to be a lot harder, a lot more energetic and I guess it's going to need us to be a lot more clinical in the way we execute our skills.

"The plans have been good in previous games, but we just haven't been able to execute and that inconsistency has hurt us."

Klusener does feel that facing an equally desperate Warriors team will aid his side. "It does help because you find that they will need to be a little bit more adventurous than they would like," he stated. "We have to do the same and at the end of the day we have to play well and win two games in a row."

From being in pole position to reach the play-offs at the halfway stage, the Warriors suddenly find themselves fighting to get there after two defeats in three games since the resumption.

Coach Malibongwe Maketa admits his side must now win both their remaining games to have a chance of making the top three.

"There's no doubt we have to win," he said. "We don’t want to put ourselves in a situation where we have to win the last game. Our focus is to go out there and win this specific game."

Although defeat will not eliminated them, the Warriors boss is also not leaving anything to chance, adding: "I understand that one win might give us a chance, but we're not prepared to take any chances."

They will take a squad of 14 players to Durban - the same XI that did duty in the weekend loss to the Knights, as well as Ayabulela Gqamane, Michael Price and Andrew Birch.

HEAD TO HEAD – Sunfoil Dolphins v Warriors

Matches Played                21

Dolphins Win                   07

Warriors Win                   12

No Result                          02