Captain Faf du Plessis is confident the Paarl Rocks can outdo the Jozi Stars a second time in less than a week.

The Rocks beat the Stars on Sunday, and on Friday will meet them again in the Mzansi Super League eliminator at the Wanderers. The winner will then face the Cape Town Blitz in Sunday’s final at Newlands.

‘They are a really good team at home. I think they’ve got a good balance to their side, but not too long ago we played them there and we beat them. Our team is in a confident space,’ said Du Plessis.

The Stars sport the services of the tournament’s leading wicket-taker in Duanne Olivier and top run-scorer in Rassie van der Dussen. Pace ace Kagiso Rabada and Reeza Hendricks, who boasts two MSL centuries, are also in their ranks.

‘We know it will be a tough game. They have some good pace up front and a really long batting line-up. In the last game our bowlers were very good in trying to make sure of restricting them to anything in the region of 170 or thereabouts. A score like that is very chase-able at the Wanderers,’ added Du Plessis.

‘But we’re playing well. You obviously want to play your best cricket towards the back end of a competition. And I feel as a team we’re doing that.’

Photo: Gallo