Orlando Pirates Reserves’ next DStv Diski Challenge assignment takes place at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, where they square up against Royal AM on Saturday.
Only a dozen fixtures remain in the ongoing season of the Reserve League, as the Bucs Reserves prepare to face their second KwaZulu-Natal opponent in as many weeks.
Form Guide
They return to the road following success at Rand Stadium, where they claimed all three points on offer in their game against Lamontville Golden Arrows which ended in a 1-0 victory, courtesy of a stunning second-half strike from Azola Matrose.
It was a return to the top of the standings for the young Buccaneers, who now have nine points in their last five outings through three home victories. They will however be eager to improve their away form, having lost twice on the road during this period.
Amid a hotly-contested title race, Pirates will look to pull away from the chasing pack with their first away win since their last visit to the province last month when they put three unanswered goals past Arrows.
Looking to throw a spanner in the works is a Royal AM outfit fresh off a six-goal spectacle against the Bucs’ Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs, who led by two goals on the hour mark before two late goals from Thwihli Thwahla made it 3-3.
This completed the second stalemate in their last five fixtures, where they have collected five points with a solitary win to take up 10th place on the table.
They are back on home turf, where they have picked up four of the five points earned in recent weeks and will be eager to bag a three-point haul that will push them into the top eight.
Head-to-Head
Pirates head into the fixture looking to stretch their unbeaten run against Royal AM, who are yet to register a win in their six past encounters at this level.
In the six games, the Buccaneers have only dropped points once in a 2-2 draw away from home during the 2022/23 campaign, and have emerged on the winning side on five occasions.
They will be looking to complete a double over the KwaZulu-Natal outfit, having dramatically edged past them at Rand Stadium earlier in the season when Senzelumusa Sibiya’s late winner separated the two sides.
How to Follow Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Royal AM Reserves
The fixture is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 and will not be televised. Live updates will be available on social media across every Orlando Pirates platform including the Club’s official mobile app.
