There is rain lingering in Bloemfontein again, and the hope is that conditions will clear later for the playoff, which carries plenty at stake for both sides. With the Knights ending at the top of the log and the Iinyathi finishing second, the winner of the Qualifier moves straight into a home final. The loser, however, gets another opportunity on Friday when they meet the winner of Wednesday’s Eliminator between the Garden Route Badgers and Mpumalanga Rhinos.

The main objective remains securing that home final and earning extra rest ahead of Sunday’s showpiece.

Ruan Dercksen - Morgan Piek

The Knights are in a strong space, and the only blemish on their campaign so far is the four-wicket defeat to the Iinyathi earlier in the season at Buffalo Park in East London.

The Knights’ home record this season has been solid, unlike in previous years, and assistant coach Ruan Dercksen told OFM Sport that securing the 15 promotion points and playing in Bloemfontein is certainly to their advantage.

“Reaching that first checkpoint of locking away the 15 points was step one, but the chat has always been that the end goal is lifting that trophy and taking the silverware,” Dercksen said.

“It has been a while, and everyone is hungry for it. The boys have been playing really good cricket, and one of the key things we focused on before and throughout the season was finding that winning formula at home. I believe we’ve found it, with the experience of someone like Rilee Rossouw and the young players feeding off the senior guys who set the platform.

“There’s a quiet confidence and energy around the group - we feel settled at home, the boys look sharp, and everyone wants to put their hand up and make it count for the team.”

Dercksen added that the loss in East London is a distant memory, and while the Iinyathi fully deserved that win, the Knights are locked in on the next 40 overs and determined to make them matter.

Rilee Rossouw - Morgan Piek

“Look, Iinyathi definitely earned that win at home - we didn’t arrive with our best cricket, and they capitalised,” he continued.

“Now it’s our turn to give it back to them. Getting into any qualifier means the teams involved deserve their place, so it’s going to be a proper contest. Having that buffer of a second chance frees the mind a bit and gives you some licence, because in this game the biggest challenge is always your own mind.

“But we’re excited, we’re confident, and we can’t wait to get onto the field on Tuesday and send them home the same way they sent us back. We’re ready for it, one hundred percent.”

Play between the Knights and Iinyathi at the Mangaung Oval is scheduled to get underway at 13:00. The atmosphere is expected to be lively, and supporters will be hoping for a full contest despite the weather concerns thereafter.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport