Veteran winger Daine Klate believes that Bidvest Wits stand a good chance of winning the Absa Premiership title this season.

The 32-year-old is the most decorated player in the PSL, having won five Absa Premiership winners medals playing for the likes of SuperSport United (three) and Orlando Pirates (two).

The Port Elizabeth-born player believes the Clever Boys are strong contenders in the race to clinch the Absa Premiership title this season, with the most experience at winning titles in South African football.

‘That’s how teams win championships. It’s not only the 11 (who start). The 11 will give you a lot during the season, but there is the question of the bench,’ Klate told the Sowetan.

‘When I won league titles, it has always been about that. When the chips are down, there are players that will come in and make a difference. That’s what we had at SuperSport when we won the (three) league titles.

‘We had (Katlego) Mashego and one day we were 1-0 down against Moroka Swallows (in 2008), and after coming on at half-time, he scored four goals in the second half and we won 4-2.’

The Students are currently second in the Absa Premiership standings,  just one point behind log leaders Cape Town City with 38 points, and have won 11 of 19 matches played so far this season.

He added: ‘We had Mark Mayambela at (Orlando) Pirates and he used to come in for 20 to 30 minutes and change the complexion of the game. We were 2-0 down against Wits (in 2011) and we won 3-2. We went on to win the league.’

Bidvest Wits will now welcome Platinum Stars to the Bidvest Stadium when the two sides go head-to-head in the Absa Premiership on Saturday.

Kick-off has been set for 18:00.