Defending PSL champions Bidvest Wits have looked a shadow of their former selves this season and it comes as no surprise to Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Themba Zwane.

The Clever Boys have performed well-below par this season, having spent most of the season in the bottom eight of the table.

Gavin Hunt’s side, who languish in tenth spot, have struggled with the juggling act of competing on both the domestic and continental fronts this campaign.

‘I am not surprised because it’s taxing to play the league and play the Champions League,’ he told Kickoff.

‘Surely their players were tired. It’s tough.

‘I think they will learn [from the experience]. They are buying players so that they can challenge for the league and Champions League. So they will learn,’ he added.

Masandawana do duty against Wits at the Loftus Versveld Stadium on Saturday at 18:00, with Zwane wary of the threat that Wits pose to their title bid.

‘It’s a big game. There’s a lot of quality players on both sides.

‘They have a balanced team and so do we. It’s going to be tough, but we are ready to fight.

‘It’s important that we win the game so that we can open the gap and to carry on winning our games,’ he concluded.

Zwane then revealed that he kept a keen eye out on fellow title rivals Orlando Pirates’ result on Wednesday night.

‘Honestly, I was watching Real Madrid, but I kept on checking the Pirates score.

‘Yes, Pirates drew, but we need to focus on our game,’ he concluded.