Tshabalala and Parker started in Chiefs’ last game against University of Pretoria a week ago and with the Soweto Derby in need of the experience that they have there is they both provide the kind of options that Baxter will need against a rampaging Orlando Pirates tonight at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“Everybody has been training with a mind of playing in the final. It is my job to have a look at that and I will look at Pirates and see what team I have to put out there to make it unpleasant for them (Pirates).
“Maybe there will be a player who has not been playing coming in because this has happened before. I cannot promise changes but I will not say no,” says Baxter when asked about the possibility of altering his starting line-up.
“We have had Shabba and Bernard coming off the bench and then we have Mandla and Mido. It is a nice problem for me to have at the moment because I wanted to know that Shabba and Bernard are selectable and that everybody is fit. It then becomes a matter of having a plan A and a plan B or even a plan C around different players.
“We will try and work out in the calmness of the dressing room what we will do on certain situations which is why I wanted to know if everybody will be available because different players will fit different scenarios,” says Baxter.
The Englishman adds that he has been thinking about ways to neutralise Pirates’ attacking threat which has been centred on Kermit Erasmus and Lehlohonolo Majoro.
“I think Pirates have been impressive in certain parts of their game and Major has been when coming on while Kermit has been lively and that has been something that they have had payback from. I think it is obviously an aspect that we have to think about going into the game in the same way that I am sure they will be thinking about certain aspects of our game that they want to combat.
“I feel once you have done that you must still make sure that you still play in the game and put your game plan together and make sure that you are not consumed with the thought of stopping the opponents from playing. You have to still make sure that you are on the front foot,” he says.