Cavin Johnson: Beating Orlando Pirates will help Kaizer Chiefs' CAF ambitions

The two giants of South African football go into their 181st meeting on Saturday at FNB Stadium, with 12 and 13 points separating Pirates and Chiefs respectively from serial champions and runaway log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

The excitement and bragging rights aside, this Derby is also about the battle for three points that could put either side in a good position to stake a claim for the second CAF Champions League qualification spot come the end of the season.

"Yes, it was one of our objectives and it's been one of the club's objectives for a long time now, and if we're able to [win] this one on Saturday, it would just give you a lot more to play for in ending up as high as we can in the league," said Johnson.

"The league still has a lot more – I think there's still about 10 or 11 – games left, and that's a lot of games to play, but if we do get a positive result on Saturday, which we're hoping for, then it will put us into a good standing going into the remaining 10 games in the PSL."

Amakhosi have produced seven clean sheets in 11 matches since Johnson took over in late-October, and the coach believes their 1-0 win over Golden Arrows on Tuesday night has brought some good confidence to the dressing room.

"The problem is that we now go into a game whereby we know we have something to hold onto, which is a clean sheet, so it gives you a little bit of confidence going into the Derby," he added.

"Yes, we've scored some goals – some beautiful goals, especially the last one we scored, which was a magic goal [by Wandile Duba], so it gives the team a boost.

"But it also gives a lot of the players that have been in the fringes, or haven't played, hope that they could come and play the Derby, so there's a lot of competition for places."

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