The bizhub Highveld Lions coach, Geoffrey Toyana, expects his senior players to take up any necessary slack over the last two games of the Sunfoil Series should the possibility of ending a 15-year drought in the competition fuel the anxiety levels.
The Lions have led the table for most of the tournament and have looked indestructible in its second half, but will still face a test of nerves in what could be a title decider against the Sunfoil Dolphins at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Thursday.
Although the Lions have enjoyed plenty of limited overs success in recent seasons - particularly in Toyana's first term in charge - the coach was still a player the last time they lifted the first-class trophy back in 1999/2000.
"There will be some nerves but I believe we've got an experienced group. We have guys like Neil McKenzie, Alviro Petersen and Stephen Cook who have played here for many years and haven't won this trophy with the Lions, so it's a big one for them," Toyana said.
The Lions have led the table for most of the tournament and have looked indestructible in its second half, but will still face a test of nerves in what could be a title decider against the Sunfoil Dolphins at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Thursday.
Although the Lions have enjoyed plenty of limited overs success in recent seasons - particularly in Toyana's first term in charge - the coach was still a player the last time they lifted the first-class trophy back in 1999/2000.
"There will be some nerves but I believe we've got an experienced group. We have guys like Neil McKenzie, Alviro Petersen and Stephen Cook who have played here for many years and haven't won this trophy with the Lions, so it's a big one for them," Toyana said.
"I'm expecting them to calm things down if we get tight in any situation. Nerves are going to be there but it's important that we focus on the job in hand with eight days of cricket to go."
Petersen is likely to return in place of Dominic Hendricks after missing last weekend's game due to a wedding, but any other team changes would be according to the conditions in Durban.
The Dolphins' effort this season has been no less impressive, given that they made a late start to the four-day competition because of their Champions League T20 commitments.
Petersen is likely to return in place of Dominic Hendricks after missing last weekend's game due to a wedding, but any other team changes would be according to the conditions in Durban.
The Dolphins' effort this season has been no less impressive, given that they made a late start to the four-day competition because of their Champions League T20 commitments.
By: Farai Diza
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