Head coach Enoch Nkwe is all but resigned to the probability that the Lions won’t secure a berth in the semi-finals of this year’s One-Day Cup.

The Lions currently occupy last position in the 2019 tournament’s six-team standings after one win in eight matches, which includes three no-results.

Victory over the Titans at Willowmoore Park in Benoni would salvage some pride, but wouldn’t be enough to lift them from the foot of the table.

‘I think even if we don’t progress to the semis, we want to be learning and improving all the time. I think in this situation it’s now out of our hands, so we’ll be looking for momentum to get us going into the next competition after this one,’ said Nkwe.

‘Obviously, it will be ideal if we can win the next two and get through, but we know it might not happen. Either way, it is a derby. No motivation is needed, so we’ll be giving everything in Benoni.’

The Lions and Titans met in the One-Day Cup last month, when Proteas teammates Temba Bavuma and Dean Elgar struck centuries at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom.

Nkwe was the head coach of the Jozi Stars during the inaugural Mzansi Super League in late 2018. The Stars won the maiden title after beating the Cape Town Blitz in the final.

Photo: Gallo Images