The two clash in a Absa Premiership encounter billed for the Rand stadium in Rosettenville, Johannesburg. Kick off is at 7.30pm.

Avril Phali, Cosmos’ captain and goalkeeper, sounded confident when he looked ahead of the potential thriller saying: “If we take our performance against Kaizer Chiefs last Saturday into this game, we are sure to beat Celtic. We had the right attitude going into that game and it has upped our spirit and morale to the extent that we believe we will get a result on Wednesday.

“We all know how good a team Celtic is and we are not about to take anything for granted. We must be careful of how we approach the game and give them the respect they deserve.

“That is where the niceties will end as we are going to fight to the last man. We need the three points more than they do and we will be playing at home and their 12th player (Siwelele sa Masokolara) won’t be there in the same manner they do when they play at home. We have a job to do and are ready for anything they can throw at us.”

The team has a clean bill of health and everybody is available for the task at hand.

“Chawe”, as Phali is fondly called by teammates and supporters, believes that Celtic’s players such as Tlou Segolela, Thembile Kanono and Patrick Malokase need to be monitored as they are capable of turning things around for Celtic.

“We have a very capable defence, and besides the two goals Chiefs scored on Saturday, we have been able to keep a clean sheet in the other five games before that. It is also heartening to see our players get onto the scoresheet as that has been one of our main worries in that we create enough chances to win games only for lady luck to desert us in front of goals.”

Phali also recalled that the players have enough fighting spirit, citing the dramatic comeback that they staged in the first-round match against Celtic.

“We were trailing 3-0 and seemed dead and buried but then burst through with three goals to salvage a point with a 3-all draw result right in their backyard. That should tell a lot about us and the tenacity of this team.”

Phali called on all Ezenkosi supporters to turn up in numbers and help the team reach the desired heights.

Cosmos will be left with three games to round off the season. They will come up against Ajax Cape Town (away), Mamelodi Sundowns (home) and then finish their programme against Moroka Swallows (away).

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