Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter says Siphiwe Tshabalala is an important cog in their arsenal after they walloped Bidvest Wits 3-0 at the weekend.
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The Clever Boys were expected to give Chiefs a good challenge in the Nedbank Cup last-32, but a change in formation got the better of them.
Chiefs usually use a 4-4-2 system but on Saturday night tried a 3-5-2, which gave Siboniso Gaxa and Tsepo Masilela the freedom to attack from the wings, with defenders Morgan Gould, Tefu Mashamaite and Eric Mathoho sitting back in defence.
Gaxa, Gould and striker Mandla Masango netted for Chiefs, but it was Tshabalala that created two of the three goals for the Amakhosi.
Baxter believes giving Shabba the freedom to attack makes the Soweto side more potent.
"If I just look through Chiefs' eyes, Shabba is a very important player for us," Baxter told Sportlive. "I think we get him into positions that he's best in.
"And when we meet teams with a solid defence very often if we can get Shabba into the right areas on the ball, he can pick the locks. We work him into the positions where he can do the most damage."
"Getting past the first round was a bit of a motivational source as well. And it was a bit of a teaser for me because I weakened the team on paper, and changed the system, which could have led to us losing this game against a competent opponent.
"And I think this formation will be a weapon going forward. We definitely have two ways of playing now - two that are different but both of them can suit us.
"That was the thinking - to surprise them. Morgan Gould is still very early in his rehab, but we thought if he got a game under his belt against Black Leopards a 3-1 league away win to Chiefs then maybe he could start here."
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