It marks the Free Staters’ first of two home games this week as they continue their push for an unprecedented domestic treble this season. On Sunday, the Knights will welcome the ever-tricky CSA Emerging side to town.

Thursday’s clash will be the fifth meeting between the Knights and the Iinyathi across all competitions this season, with the hosts holding a 3–1 advantage in the head-to-head battle. The Knights’ only defeat of the campaign came against the Iinyathi in East London during the T20 Knockout. However, they’ve since turned the tables, beating them in the playoffs, the final, and in a crucial 4-Day Series encounter.

Cole Abrahams - Morgan Piek

Confidence is high in the Knights camp heading into their first home fixture of the competition, following an emphatic 83-run win over the Limpopo Impalas in their season opener in Polokwane on Sunday.

Top-order batter Cole Abrahams, who struck a solid 82 in that victory, told OFM Sport that the team remains firmly focused on their own journey, with their processes outweighing the opposition in importance.

“The Iinyathi are definitely the team we’ve faced the most this season, but for us it’s always been about focusing on the brand of cricket we want to play and the goals we’ve set as a team,” said Abrahams, who appears to be rediscovering form with the bat.

“It doesn’t matter too much who we’re up against - it’s about executing well, being clinical in our performances, and sticking to our processes.

“The game against Limpopo was a really good start for us, and we’re taking things one match at a time, making sure we tick all the boxes we’ve set out. If we do that, we’ll put ourselves in a strong position to come out on top.

“That approach has been evident in the two campaigns we’ve already won. We’ve focused on ourselves and how we can improve as a unit, rather than worrying too much about the opposition, and I think that’s given us a slight edge. We’re constantly looking to get better.

“It should be a good contest, but as always, the key for us will be doing the basics right and sticking to what works.”

Play at the Mangaung Oval gets underway at 10:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport