Moroka Swallows under new coach Rainer Zobel, are aiming to fly high this season but face a trip into the unknown when they play Absa Premiership newcomer Mpumalanga Black Aces at Witbank's Puma Rugby Stadium on Wednesday (kick-off 7.30pm).

According to 'Birds' assistant coach Zeca Marques, Zobel, a former Bayern Munich star of the golden side of the 1970s, will transform the Birds into a competitive championship side this season.

Said Marques: "Zobel is a fantastic coach and a great guy to work with.

"The players and the technical team have taken to him and we are on track to resurrect Swallows this season."

Marques said while the defence was solid, the 'Birds' fell down in the opening fixture at home to Golden Arrows drawing 0-0 last weekend.

"We could not score and even missed a penalty. But those are mistakes we can fix and hopefully we will get it right against Aces."

Zobel and his team are backing on the experience of two former Bafana Bafana strikers, Siyabonga Nomvete and Lungisani Ndlela, plus Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma who joined the Birds this season.

Ndlela and Mbesuma were signed from Mamelodi Sundowns where the giant Ndlela rarely got a chance to play. But the 'Birds' are in a race against time to get Zambian international Mbesuma's work permit sorted out in time for Wednesday's clash.

"We believe the trio of Ndlela, Mbesuma and Nomvete will solve our goal scoring problems. All three are looking good, but Mbesuma in particular is razor sharp, having lost seven kilograms and has rediscovered his knack of scoring inside the six yard box."

Marques has plenty of respect for Aces coach Sammy Troughton who won the club promotion at the end of last season, plus the club's ambitions management.

"Aces are the sort of club we want to see in the PSL. They have a young coach who gets the best out of his players with a limited budget and a young management team who know where they are going.

"I believe they will do well in the PSL, but it will take them time to settle in.

"The PSL need a team in Witbank and Mpumalanga area and Aces will be an asset."

But Swallows hope to hit Aces where it hurts before they settle into life in the top flight. "Aces lost their opening match away to Sundowns (2-0) and our plan will be to keep them under a lot of pressure.

"They are already under pressure to win their first points in the PSL and we are not going to make it easy for them.

"Aces are an unknown quality but we know our strengths and we will play to them and we reckon our experience will see us through what could be a tricky fixture."