LATEST: As many as SIX players unavailable for Chiefs

Chiefs will be heading into Saturday’s clash against Sundowns as undeniable underdogs, with the team also coming off the back of a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of AmaZulu.

To make matters worse, Arthur Zwane has confirmed that they will have to cope without several players.

‘There are a number of players, about five or six, who will not be available to us because of injuries and we had to come up with another plan,” he told the Chiefs website. “What I’m happy about is seeing young boys grabbing the opportunity when it is given to them.

“We are obviously a work in progress side, with new players. By now you would have expected some of the players to have gelled and settled with others in the squad, but we won’t give up on them. Our job as coaches is to keep things going until we get it right.”

On the other hand, Chiefs will at least be able to welcome some players back, with five stars set to return to face Sundowns.

READ | FIVE KAIZER CHIEFS STARS SET TO RETURN TO FACE SUNDOWNS TONIGHT!

Meanwhile, it shouldn’t be forgotten that after another remarkable run of league form, Mamelodi Sundowns will have the chance to set a new Premier Soccer League record as they aim for an unprecedented 12th DStv Premiership victory in a row.

On Monday, Sundowns claimed a 1-0 victory over SuperSport United to equal their own best winning run of 11 victories in succession, which had been set in the 2006/07 season under coach Gordon Igesund.

As is stands, Sundowns have played one extra game compared to the rest of the teams in the top eight of the DStv Premiership, but it can’t detract from what already seems like an unassailable lead at the summit of the standings.

Masandawana are now 14 points clear of second-placed Richards Bay, and 16 clear of SuperSport, the team that they importantly beat 1-0 on Monday night.

Pirates lie in fifth place on the DStv Premiership table, just two points behind fourth-placed Chiefs. Yet, the fact of the matter is that there are 19 log points that separate table-topping Sundowns (43 points) and Amakhosi (24 points).

Again, it’s become clear that there is an insurmountable gulf between Sundowns and the chasing pack, and the second half of the season will now mainly revolve around achieving personal club goals.

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Chiefs are 19 points behind Sundowns