Orlando Pirates are in midweek action at home to Sekhukhune United as they resume their DStv Premiership campaign with the match taking place on Tuesday night.
The iconic Orlando Stadium will serve as a backdrop for the clash between two teams that have become familiar foes in recent times as they cross paths for the fourth time this year.
Form Guide
The fixture takes place just three days after a disappointing cup outing in Durban where they bowed out of the quarterfinal stage of the Carling Knockout Cup after falling short in the penalty shootout against Richards Bay.
Focus now shifts to their league campaign, where they desperately need to accumulate points after dropping down to 13th place in the standings, with just nine points earned in their eight fixtures.
Pirates are winless in their last four games in the Premiership, with just two points earned during this period. Their last victory in the league came in the opening month of the season when they defeated Cape Town City 2-0 at home.
To get their campaign back on track, they have to overcome a Sekhukhune outfit fresh off a cup disappointment of their own after they also came unstuck in a shootout following their marathon encounter at home to TS Galaxy.
Much like their hosts, Babina Noko are also in the bottom half of the standings with no wins in their last four league fixtures, where they have managed a single point after falling to three defeats.
They currently sit on 11 points after 10 games and a win on Tuesday could push them up to the top eight.
Team News
The Buccaneers have been dealt a blow in their preparations as they have to do without striker Zakhele Lepasa, who is unavailable through suspension after picking up his fourth yellow card of the season over the weekend.
This opens up an opportunity for the other forwards in the squad in the likes of Bienvenu Eva Nga and Soaibou Marou, who could be brought in to plug the gap left by the 26-year-old after both played no part over the weekend.
The visitors meanwhile have no suspension worries ahead of the clash and have been recently bolstered by the return midfielder Siphesihle Mkhize after a month-long absence from the match day squad.
Key Players
Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates): The 30-year-old will once again be pivotal to the Bucs’ cause, having come off another eye-catching performance. With on a handful of appearances under his belt this season, Lorch has already turned in a couple of Man of the Match displays owing to his work rate and adaptability in various attacking positions.
Jamie Webber (Sekhukhune United): The midfield workhorse has been one of the visitors’ standout players this season, chipping in with crucial goals and assists from the centre of the park. Webber has had a hand in four goals so far in the campaign, and will be looking to deliver a big performance against the Buccaneers.
Head-to-Head
This is Sekhukhune’s second visit to Orlando Stadium this season, having already locked horns with Pirates during the opening round of the MTN8. They will not have the fondest memories of that particular fixture after getting on the wrong end of a 5-0 scoreline with Lepasa netting a hat-trick, while Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Monnapule Saleng also got on the scoresheet.
That was the Buccaneers’ fourth win over Babina Noko in six meetings across competitions, where they have only suffered one defeat and played to a single stalemate.
The Soweto Giants also hold a slight upper hand in the short league rivalry between the two sides, winning two and losing once in their four matches played so far.
How to Watch Orlando Pirates vs Sekhukhune United
The game kicks off at 19:30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL. You can stay in touch with the action by keeping an eye on live updates posted across Orlando Pirates social media platforms, including the Club’s official mobile app.
Tickets to attend the match are available at TicketPro online and in selected outlets nationwide.
