10 million reasons for Du Preez to perform

This match may only be a third start in the famous shirt for Du Preez, but his reported R10 million price tag means he is expected to hit the

ground running. His debut saw some bright moments coming in off the left wing and one very clear chance when he was released centrally behind the defence by Maart’s fine pass.

It was just a few matches ago, in mid-May, where Du Preez destroyed Sundowns in a Stellies shirt. The speedy forward scored a brace at

Tuks Stadium in a 3-0 defeat for Downs as he twice ran in-behind to score. The goals that day came from a quick freekick hit long behind the back four and then a quick counterattack with a pass from right back Dean Van Rooyen. Both times, Du Preez exposed the space behind Lebusa and Kekana.

Although he largely played off the left flank, with Billiat up front against Royal AM, Zwane may be

wise to move him into a centreforward role for this match and have his best long-distance passers, Maart and Dolly, look to hit searching passes into the channels behind Downs’ very attacking, adventurous fullbacks. It may go slightly against the coach’s possession-based ideals, but dropping a little deeper, drawing the Tshwane giants out and play early direct passes on the counter-attack is

potentially a plan with its merits.