Menengai Oilers coach Gibson Weru believes defence and the setpiece will be vital when his side face KCB in a Kenya Cup semifinal on Saturday in Ruaraka.
Speaking Wednesday, Weru said they are in a better place than when they fell at the same stage last year.
“We had housekeeping issues with the players last year, evidenced by our poor performances when we lost 62-15 to KCB in the pool phase and 38-20 in the semifinal. We are settled and playing good rugby this time,” said Weru.
"It will come down to who dominates the setpiece, the scrum and lineout — two important fundamentals of the game. We also have to be on point defensively."
Weru will be buoyed by their performance at the pool phase when they beat the Thika Road-side 21-7 earlier this month in Nakuru.
The win ended the Bankers' eight-match unbeaten run in the league.
“It was a big win for us. Everything went right that day but that is in the past now. Saturday will be a big test for us,” noted Weru.
This will be the third consecutive year the two sides meet in the semifinals.
The Nakuru-based won the 2022 semifinal 24-17 at the Lions' Den with the bankers avenging last year with a 38-20 win at the same venue.
Weru's charges reached the Kenya Cup final in 2022 but lost 34-28 to Kabras at the Kakamega Showground
The former Kenya Sevens playmaker said there are no injuries to report and everyone is raring to go.
"We had solid training sessions on Monday and Tuesday. The players are in good spirits and are ready for the battle," added Weru.
Oilers finished third on the log with 42 points and then dispatched Blak Blad 26-12 in the quarterfinal playoffs last week.
The other semifinal, also on Saturday, pits champions Kabras and this season's surprise package, Nondies, at the Kakamega showground.
The final is slated for April 6.
