SIMBA Sithole could return to the Dynamos starting line-up tomorrow when the Harare giants host Shabanie Mine in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Rufaro. DeMbare will be looking to bounce back to winning ways following a disappointing 1-0 loss to Chicken Inn during the midweek, which dented their charge in the championship race.

Sithole, who also missed the previous home game against Motor Action, could not travel to Bulawayo for the match because of a knee injury.

But Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa yesterday said the former CAPS United and Mamelodi Sundowns striker could be an option tomorrow as Rodrick Mutuma is out on suspension after picking a red card at Chicken Inn.

This leaves Pasuwa with only Martin Vengesai among the out and out strikers.

Zambian forward Derrick Kabwe is still down with injury while his compatriot Arthur Kaseloki only resumed training this week after a month-long layoff and might not be fit enough for the match.

"Simba is okay now but we wanted to rest him. We still have to look at his fitness but, as one of the goal poachers to be relied on, we may have to gamble," said Pasuwa.

"The problem is that we still have many players injured. I think it's because of the training surface which is hard and it also appears we are suffering from playing on artificial turf almost week in and week out.

"The hard surfaces damage the ankles and the knees."

However, Pasuwa said they have put behind them the disappointment from the Chicken Inn match and are now focusing on collecting maximum points in their remaining matches.

Highlanders now control the championship race with 53 points while DeMbare are on 52 after 23 games.

The technical team will need to work extra hard to help the players absorb the pressure that comes with the intensity of a tight home-stretch.

Dynamos could comfort themselves with the fact that they collected a point when they travelled to Maglas for the first leg back in May and should fancy their chances at home.

Midfielder Milton Makopa is the latest casualty in the DeMbare camp as he could not train properly yesterday because of swelling shins.

DeMbare has been reeling under a cloud of injuries to some of their key players and the suspension of Mutuma has added to their woes as it affects their already depleted strike-force.

"I have been talking about fatigue and injuries and I think this has contributed to the loss of our form of late.

"We have been making too many changes to the team as we tried to rotate all the players at our disposal but in the end it disturbed our combinations.

"But we have been talking to these guys to keep their heads up because we are now at a very crucial stage of the race. It's important to be strong both mentally and physically," said Pasuwa.