Two First Division giant killers, Pretoria University and Black Leopards are 90 minutes from Nedbank Cup glory.

Both minnows dream of playing in their first cup final. Both have had similar paths to the semifinals where they defeated two Premier Soccer League (PSL) sides and, at the weekend, face the big test when they square up against PSL opposition for the third time for a right to play in the final.

Tukkies, under former Wits University midfield star Steve Barker, play Ajax Cape Town at his old home ground Milpark on Sunday afternoon (3pm) while Leopards tackle Moroka Swallows at Polokwane's Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night. Kick-off is at 8.15pm.

Tuks have the biggest scalp in the form of a 4-3 win over Kaizer Chiefs in the second round played at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium.

Amakhosi are the most successful club in knockout history and it has been a long time since Amakhosi conceded four goals in a match.

But, to show that was no fluke, Tuks edged out Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 in the quarterfinals, who are a far better side than their 15th position in the PSL suggests.

Leopards got rid of PSL relegation candidates Bay United and them clobbered Platinum Stars 3-0 at home in the quarterfinals.

Leopards' coach Vadislav Heric is determined to make a fight of it and ruffle some feathers. He said this week, if the players follow his game plan, his side would be in with a big chance of another upset.

Barker has watched the Urban Warriors' form rise and fall this year: "We are not reading anything into their form as every player wants to play in a cup final and Ajax, like ourselves, are no different. They start as favourites and I am not complaining about that."

But, Barker, one of the emerging young coaches in the country, has a game plan for Ajax.

He said: "I won't go into details for obvious reasons but let's just say we have been hard at work doing our homework. One thing I can say is that it is vital we dominate the midfield. We will be out there fighting and competing as hard as we can."

Barker, who tasted cup success in helping Wits win the Top Eight and defunct JPS Knockout and Coca-Cola cups, as a player, knows what it is like to be in a semifinal and final and he will be guiding his young students against a side which has a proven cup pedigree having won the Rothmans Cup in 2000, the Absa Cup in 2007 and the Telkom Knockout in December.

Barker stressed that he and his players will show Ajax plenty of respect.

"But," he added, "we are one game away from playing in our first cup final and nobody at the club wants to miss out on that.

"Beating Chiefs and Celtic was fantastic and a huge morale boost. But that is now history. Ajax have recently won the Knockout and have tasted cup glory this season and that has got to be respected."

But the compact pitch at Milpark will suit the Students style of play. And it helps that Barker got to know just about every blade of grass in his eight years as a Wits player.

"The pitch will be an advantage because it is small and close to Pretoria while Ajax have to travel from Cape Town. And, for the first time in the competition, we will have more support than our opponents. We must make all these factors count."

Tukkies skipper and key central defender Obert Moyo returns after missing the Celtic clash through suspension while his two strikers Nkosinathi Ogle and Phinda Dlamini are set to play a big role.

But Ajax have the much-feared Mabhuti Khenyeza, who has been a revelation since joining Ajax from Chiefs at the start of the season, and is the club's leading goal scorer. On their day, if fit, wingers Franklyn Cale and Sameehg Doutie can be match winners.

Experience could be the deciding factor but most of the fans going to Milpark on Sunday will be hoping that Tuks' fairytale cup dream continues.

Tuks are bussing in 10 bus loads of students and Barker is hoping that the Wits students on campus will turn out in large numbers to support their Pretoria cousins.

"The support we get from our fans and those from Wits will be a big motivating factor on which we hope to capitalise," Barker said.

Sapa

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