The hosts have lost two out of their four games this season, including a disappointing final day meltdown against the Highveld Lions last weekend.

But they have also beaten the champions, the Multiply Titans, and drawn against the  Cape Cobras, meaning there is plenty of cause for optimism.

“We’ve improved a lot in terms of execution from last season and the fact that we can see progress is very pleasing,” Maketa said. “We worked very hard to try and get better at four-day cricket, but unfortunately in four-day cricket you can’t afford to lose focus even for one moment.

“You have to be in it for every session, every delivery and that’s what we now need to make sure we do.”

This weekend they play a Knights team that is still unbeaten in 2016/17 after winning two and drawing two of their games.

Maketa is expecting a tough challenge, but wants his players to capitalise on home advantage in what is the final four-day match for the year. The CSA T20 Challenge begins next week and will run until mid-December, before first-class cricket returns again in January.

“It’s a good team they’ve put together this season and it will be a big challenge for us,” Maketa adds. “But we’re at home and we need to make that count, particularly because it’s the last game now before the break.”

Basheer Walters is back after paternity leave, but the Warriors have added further options in Gionne Koopman and Anrich Nortje to their squad.

Knights coach, Nicky Boje, is expected to bring back Marchant de Lange after resting him in their rain-affected draw against the Hollywood-bets Dolphins last time out.

The central franchise can go top of the table with a win and if other results go their way over the weekend. “It’s quite difficult when you have more than two-and-a-half days without cricket,” Boje said. “We were disappointed with that, but it was out of our hands.

“We’re now focussed on the Warriors and hopefully we can build on the start we’ve made.

“I think it’s an important game for all the teams because they’ll want to finish off well going into that break.”

Warriors squad: Colin Ackermann, Tladi Bokako, Simon Harmer (captain), Gihahn Cloete, Clyde Fortuin, Aya Gqamane, Gionne Koopman, Edward Moore, Lesiba Ngoepe, Anrich Nortje, Somila Seyibokwe, Yaseen Vallie, Basheer Walters.

Knights squad: Tumelo Bodibe, Mbulelo Budaza, Theunis de Bruyn (captain), Marchant de Lange, Dillon du Preez, Michael Erlank, David Miller, Luthando Mnyanda, Tshepo Ntuli, Duanne Olivier, Robin Peterson, Rudi Second, Shadley van Schalkwyk.