Titans Coach Mark Boucher has full confidence that his side will bounce back after their recent loss to the Warriors.

The Titans have a derby clash against the Highveld Lions at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday and Boucher will hope to regain the amazing form which saw them go five games unbeaten at the start of the competition.

The defending champions were beaten by the Warriors last Friday for their second loss in succession, but they have managed to hold on to top spot after the Eastern Cape franchise, who still have a game in hand, were beaten by the Lions on Sunday.

However, the competition is now at a crunch stage with just three match days remaining and the Titans hold a slender one-point lead over the Warriors, whom they do play away in their final game.

‘It’s getting tight at the top there, but we remain in control of our own destiny,’ Boucher said. ‘If we win our next two games, we should get a home final.

‘So it is close, but that’s how T20 cricket is designed. We’re in a position where we don’t need to rely on anyone and the plan is to still go out there and secure a home final.’

Reflecting on the loss to the Warriors last Friday, Boucher insisted it was water under the bridge as he had swiftly moved on.

‘It’s been quite a hectic schedule so the guys have been given a bit of a break after that Warriors loss,’ he explained.

‘I’m not looking too much into that defeat. But I thought it was a first stumble as a batting unit, so that was disappointing. Hopefully, the guys can pick up now after a small rest and finish strongly heading into this week.’

The Titans have stuck with the same squad that has already served them so well this season, meaning there is no return for any of their Proteas, bar Tabraiz Shamsi, who did play the last game.

The Lions, on the other hand, do welcome Temba Bavuma back for the Jukskei derby. They already had Dwaine Pretorius playing for them at the weekend and the men from Johannesburg are looking far better now in third position after three wins in a row.

‘I’m very pleased how we’ve come back in the past few games,’ their coach Geoffrey Toyana said.

‘It was very tight on Sunday, but that’s the nature of T20 cricket.

‘We’ve turned it around and I’m quite happy that we’re alive with three games to go. We’ll try and take it one game at a time and see where that takes us.’

The Titans won the first round meeting in a game that marked the start of a fine run of five straight wins and Toyana was hoping they would be able to get one back in the derby.

‘They beat us in our own back yard and hopefully we can do the same to them,’ he added.

‘Both teams will be under pressure because of the tightness on the log. But it will be a matter of whoever pitches up on the day.’

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