New head coach Donovan Miller will miss former captain Dane Vilas, seamer Beuaran Hendricks and others during the Jozi Stars’ 2019 Mzansi Super League campaign.

Vilas and Hendricks were part of the Stars’ title-winning campaign in 2018, but have since joined the Durban Heat and Nelson Mandela Bay Giants, respectively.

Batsman Pite van Biljon and has also left the Stars, for the Tshwane Spartans, while Proteas duo Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks have been retained.

‘We would have loved to have Dane and the others that are no longer here, but that is how the draft system works. I was looking at the draft and how all the other teams planned,’ said Miller, who has succeeded former Stars coach Enoch Nkwe.

‘They planned really well, they selected players smartly and they put a lot of thought process into their selections. All the teams are pretty strong, but we have a very strong team as well. We have a lot of winners and we won’t be worrying about the opposition because once we bring our “A” game, we’ll be in. Everyone is excited and cannot wait to cross that line on Friday.’

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The Stars and Cape Town Blitz will open the tournament at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday. They met in last year’s final.

‘I wouldn’t say we’re under any extra pressure, because it’s something natural and it comes down to how you deal with it. You can only bring pressure on yourself. If we plan well and we go out and execute then we’ll get close to winning games and once we’re winning games, you’ll get close to where you want to be,’ added Miller.

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