bizhub Highveld Lions batsman Rassie van der Dussen believes the VKB Knights will be desperate when they come to Potchefstroom to face them in their latest CSA T20 Challenge outing on Friday.

Like they did in the previous competition, the visitors are battling to get early wins under their belt and are now winless in two games – although one of them was abandoned on account of the weather.

It has left the Central franchise as the only side yet to win and also condemned them to the bottom of the table, but Van der Dussen knows exactly what the dangers are about writing off any opposition.

“They’re obviously desperate for a win,” he said. “If you observed them in the (Momentum) One-Day Cup, they had a difficult competition, but when they beat the (Multiply) Titans in Bloemfontein chasing 300 odd runs, it lifted them big time.

“It also showed that when they get it right they really can be a difficult team. They always come into games as underdogs, which makes them dangerous, so we’ll definitely not be taking them lightly.”

The Lions were themselves looking for their first win in midweek, and managed to get it with a clinical win over the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in Durban.

Wiaan Mulder was the star performer for them and Van der Dussen praised him for his display. “We’re obviously very pleased after that,” he stated. “It was a bit of a tough wicket, but Wiaan Mulder obviously on the night he produced what we all know he is capable of.

“It was the first time he’s done it for the Lions and that was what really put us in a strong position. So, it was good to win and get that first one under the belt.”

The Lions had lost their opening match to the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras and Standard Bank Proteas star Van der Dussen wants them to continue learning and rectifying errors they made in that game.

He added: “For us the focus will be more on our processes and improving the areas where we have been short. We’ve improved a lot from the Cobras game now and there’s some aspects that we’ll look to further improve going into the game in Potch.”

Knights assistant coach Werner Coetsee insists their camp remains upbeat despite the results over the opening week.

They lost to the Dolphins, before a washout against the Warriors and Alan Kruger’s No. 2 admits there is little time to mull over what may have been.

“There’s not much time to sulk about what’s happened, we just need to move on now and focus fully on the job that needs to be done against the Lions,” he said.

“The mood is still very good and everyone is in a good space. The Lions will be a tough proposition, so we have to respect them.”

HEAD TO HEAD – bizhub Highveld Lions v VKB Knights 

Matches Played  – 24

Lions Win – 7

Knights Win – 10

Tie – 2

No Result – 5