Čukarički and Partizan will meet for the third time this season in the sixth, penultimate round of the Serbian Super League Play-off, scheduled for Sunday at 4 PM on Banovo Brdo stadium.

In their previous encounters, Čukarički managed strong results against Partizan, winning 4-1 on Banovo Brdo and drawing 0-0 in Hum. The upcoming match will have less impact on Čukarički's standings compared to Partizan, but coach Marko Jakšić highlights that the team has plenty of motivation to perform well in front of their fans.

"The boys have trained exceptionally well. I hope they will be at their best against Partizan. We don't have the same result imperative as our rivals. However, if we can, we aim to win every match, including when we field a young team of 11 players," said Jakšić, addressing the significant player absences for the derby.

"The roster situation is very challenging. We will be missing at least seven players, possibly up to ten. The players we have are in competition, and some young players will be involved. Nevertheless, we will field our best possible team, as we did against Vojvodina in Novi Sad. A few older players have been absent for a longer time, and we are assessing which players we can rely on until June. The entire Play-off has served as a selection process. However, our ambition in every match, including against Partizan, remains unchanged."

In the previous round, Čukarički suffered a narrow defeat against Vojvodina (0-1), which Jakšić found unsatisfactory.

"I was not satisfied with the energy we brought into the match. We did not execute what we had trained on the field. The agreement was to play football and perform what we trained, but that didn't happen on the pitch. It seemed like we were under pressure, not Vojvodina."

Jakšić also called on the Banovo Brdo stadium crowd to support the young players who represent the club's and Serbian football's future.

"You will have the chance to see our youth, the future of this club and Serbian football as a whole. Some players will play their final match for Čukarički on Banovo Brdo, including Filip Matijašević. I would like them to leave on a good note, and the best way would be a victory. I hope there will be more transfers like Filip's to Salzburg in the coming years, but we must work well to achieve that. All the transfers of the past years show that we are doing a good job."

Finally, Jakšić addressed the strength of Partizan, noting their improved roster during the transfer window and their strong performance.

"They have several excellent young players who are sought after by foreign clubs. They have bolstered their team with experienced players, particularly Zdjelar and Mitrović, who bring stability on and off the field. Every team would want players like them. They have Seka, who is playing superbly in the second half of the season, and I could go on... They are undoubtedly a team that can cause problems for everyone. They are fighting for second place, so the pressure is greater on their side."

Looking ahead, Jakšić emphasized the importance of strengthening the team before the new season.

"We have a clear picture of the players who will stay. As for reinforcements, we are working on it daily with the club. We will see what is best for us. I hope most of the reinforcements will be in place at the start of preseason. We can wait for two to three players who might join bigger clubs in the summer transfer window. We need to have five or six bonus players in the roster for injuries and cards. Čukarički does not have a problem in this segment."