Salie was understudy last season to Shuaib Walters and Virgil Vries when Komphela was in charge, but is now vying with Vries for the first team jersey after Walters moved to Mpumalanga Black Aces at the start of the season.
Salie performed well in Maritzburg’s previous match as the Team of Choice registered their first League victory of the season, away to University of Pretoria.
“It's an important clash and you don't need any extra motivation for such games because everyone wants to do well against Pirates, Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns. If I get to play again I will have to pull up another strong, solid performance for the team,” Salie says.
“The motivation for me is to do well in every games I get to start, then carry that form over into the next game,” says Salie, who was also in goal when Maritzburg beat Jomo Cosmos in the Telkom Knockout, their only other win this season.
Although Chiefs fought back from two goals down to put five past Maritzburg in the MTN8 at the start of the season, Salie points out that Amakhosi do not have a great record at Harry Gwala Stadium.
Last season Chiefs lost there to a solitary strike by Khumbulani Banda.
“They have never had luck coming here and they will not get anything here again, the 24-yearold says confidently.
I am hopeful we can blow everybody away like last season.
“We are mentally prepared and everything has been going well this week, so I'm sure they will get another surprise by not getting anything here at Harry Gwala again.”