CHEVROLET Warriors, the newly crowned MTN40 champions, will be hoping for some form of payback today.

They return to East London’s Buffalo Park, the scene of the historic triumph against the Dolphins, to open their Standard Chartered Pro20 account against the Chevrolet Diamond Eagles.

And they will no doubt be mindful of the fact that it was the Eagles – Pro20 champions in 2004 and 2006 – that last year cost them a lucrative place in the final. The Eagles won in the super over of the third leg of a tense semi-final at St George’s.

That defeat robbed the Warriors of a big payday as both finalists qualified for the inaugural, and highly lucrative, Champions League in India.

But ever-diplomatic Russell Domingo, the Warriors coach, said he had “forgotten about last year’s semi-final” and was more concerned about “some of the pitfalls that come with success”. “This is a new competition and the trick is to make sure that the players mind-set is right ... that they do not take their foot off the pedal and are not satisfied with winning just one trophy.”

And although his multitude of Proteas stars have left for India, Domingo was confident that the players at his disposal will do the business against the Eagles.

“We have been quite successful in the shortened versions of game because we have depth in our squad ... we are fortunate to be able to call on the likes of Arno Jacobs, Lyall Meyer and Jon Jon Smuts.”

All in all, the Warriors are expected to make up to seven changes to the team that beat the Dolphins.

And after finally getting that dreaded monkey off their back – of not having won a franchise trophy – the Warriors will be confident of improving on their impressive record at Buffalo Park by starting their Pro20 campaign on a positive note.

Domingo was confident of turning the tables on a side that, although succumbing meekly to the Warriors by nine wickets in Kimberley, finished the league phase of the MTN40 with a 37- run win over the Dolphins.

“With only five games in the league phase it’s important to start with a victory,” he said. “A loss can put us under pressure while a win will put us on the road to the semi-final.”

Now under the guidance of new captain Morné van Wyk, the Eagles will be hoping to draw on their Champions League experience to redeem themselves in the Pro20 after finishing second last on the MTN40 standings with only three wins to their credit.

The explosive nature of the Pro20 format sometimes means that home advantage counts for nought – a case in point being last year when both the Dolphins and the Warriors had home advantage for the third leg of the knockout phase, but it was the two visiting teams, the Cobras and the Eagles, that made it through to the final.

The Warriors team is: Davy Jacobs (capt), Arno Jacobs, Justin Kreusch, Colin Ingram, Jon Jon Smuts, Nicky Boje, Rusty Theron, Lyall Meyer, Garnett Kruger, Bevan Bennett, Craig Thyssen, Corbyn Dolley, Makhaya Ntini. - By DOMINIC PEEL