Mpumalanga Black Aces coach Sammy Troughton is not worried about playing Carara Kicks in their vital promotion playoff second leg showdown at neutral Pretoria University on Thursday night (kick-off 7.30pm).

The two sides were locked at 1-1 after a dramatic first leg played at Welkom's Griffon Park on Sunday.

Troughton said he is not concerned about losing home ground advantage because he knows the LC de Villiers stadium inside out, having coached 'Tuks' for nine years.

"Our home ground at Ackerville's floodlights were not up to standard for a televised match," said Troughton.

"I am concerned we will lose home support but the pitch at Tukkies will suit us better and could work to our advantage."

Aces had their captain, Felix Musasa, sent off after he broke Oupa Ngulube's leg with a terrible tackle late in the first leg game. But Aces broke Kicks' hearts when Songwe Chalwe equalised from the penalty spot to level the tie with the last shot off the game, giving Aces a vital away goal.

"It's still 50/50," said troughton, "the away goal only comes into play if we are level 0-0 at the end of the game.

"I do not think this will be a goalless game, looking at how many chances both sides created in the first leg.

"The fact that Kicks lost a late goal could act as a psychological blow to them.

"Any side would have their heads down conceding like that in the last minute, but we need to stamp our authority on the game from the start."

Troughton is looking to veteran Swaziland striker Sibusiso Dlamini and Chalwe to open up the Kicks defence. He has plenty of players with PSL experience, such as former Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena and tough as teak former Bloemfontein Celtic defender Lucas Tlhomelang.

Kicks will rely on leading goal scorer Kingston Nkhatha and Aleni Lebyane to unlock the Aces defence.

In the other second leg tie, FC Cape Town host Thanda Roayl Zulu at Vugieskrall in Athlone also at 7.30pm.

The two winners meet in the playoff final and the winners of that game will be promoted to the Absa Premiership.