Cavin Johnson will be looking to get his Black Leopards tenure off to a positive start when his side face Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium on Sunday.

Cavin Johnson will be looking to get his Black Leopards tenure off to a positive start when his side face Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium on Sunday.

Johnson, who previously coached AmaZulu before being sacked from that position, replaced Luc Eymael in the Lidoda Duvha dugout just 48 hours after the Belgian's resignation.

Under Eymael‚ Leopards had won four out of eight league and cup games‚ drawing two and losing two. This, after Lionel Soccoia, who managed just one win before leaving abruptly after six matches.

And so with all the coaching uncertainty hopefully behind them, Leopards desperately need to find stability under the former Platinum Stars, SuperSport United and Usuthu mentor.

At Highlands Park however, stability and uncertainty are not a problem as they maintain their hunt for a top eight finish for the second time in two seasons since gaining promotion to the PSL.

The Lions of the North are in sixth position, having finished seventh last season, and looking certain to better that finish this campaign. Mothobi Mvala is in fantastic form and has emerged as a talisman along with Peter Shalulile for Owen da Gama's side.

But despite their decent standing thus far this season, Da Gama that his side may be suffering from second-season syndrome.

“The second season in the PSL is much tougher because everyone is expecting so much from you but at the same time the teams know you much better and are better prepared for you," said the Lions of the North tactician.

“For me the second season back was always going to be a lot tougher. Look at Free State Stars, they were fourth and then got relegated.

“Maritzburg United finished sixth and then the next season barely survived the promotion-relegation playoffs,”