Ajax won the event for the first time by beating Kaizer Chiefs in the final in September, but are at risk of finishing outside of the top-eight in the league this campaign.
The Urban Warriors are 10th on the table with 30 points from 23 matches - two points behind Free State Stars, who occupy the final qualifying spot for the cup.
“[Our aim] is simple. We have to win most our remaining games because we are reigning MTN8 champions and if Ajax Cape Town are not in the Top Eight next season, it’s going to be a tough pill to swallow,” says Graham.
“It won’t do the club’s reputation any good either because we’re reigning champions, so we have to be there. Basically we need to win as many games as possible now to try and make the Top Eight.
“We haven’t set a target [of points to reach], we are just taking one game at a time and need to try to get as many points as we can.”
Roger de Sa's side next entertain league title contenders Platinum Stars tonight, with Graham expecting a test at Cape Town Stadium.
“Platinum Stars are a very good team. We had a bad game against them when we played away,” says the Under-23 international, referring to a 3-0 defeat in Rustenburg on March 13.