After a disappointing draw in their last league fixture, Santos will be looking for the full three points when they host Maritzburg United in an Absa Premiership match at the Coetzenburg Stadium on Saturday evening (kick-off 8pm).

In their last league match, where they drew 0-0 with BidVest Wits, The People?s team failed to pick up two points on league leaders, SuperSport United, who also played to a draw. Santos will see this as a missed opportunity and will look to take out their frustration on Maritzburg.

"We badly want to win at home; we tried hard in our last couple of games, but now we must try even harder," Santos? veteran midfielder Musa Otieno told the club's official website.

He added: "We must realise that other clubs see us as one of the big teams in the league and therefore raise their game when they come to play us — this just means that we have to raise ours even further.

"Maritzburg are also coached by the former Santos coach Gordon Igesund, who will have his plans to try and nullify Santos. It's going to be a tough game for us."

The 'Team of Choice' will be no walkover as they are also desperate for a win following their 1-1 draw with Orlando Pirates in their last league match.

Furthermore, United have proven to be tricky opponents this season and are in some decent form at present going unbeaten in their last four league games, which has seen them pick up a total of seven points.

Presently, eight places and eight points separate the two sides on the league table. Santos are near the top of the log in third position on 24 points whereas Maritzburg are placed in 11th position on 16 points.

Both teams will not want to drop any points on Saturday and if their short history is anything to go by it will be a close call in regards to who wins. The two teams have only faced each other in six official league matches. Of those games Santos have won three and Maritzburg two with the other game ending in a draw.

Last season in the corresponding fixture Santos were victorious by two goals to nil, but United were able to exact revenge in the reverse fixture with a 1-0 win.

Backpagepix/iafrica.com