Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates are set to meet for the third time this season in an eagerly awaited Betway Premiership clash.
The two giants of South African football have already faced each other twice this season during the MTN8 semi-final, where the Buccaneers triumphed on penalties after both legs ended in a 1-1 draw.
Having secured the top two spots over the past three seasons, both Sundowns and Pirates are favourites to win the Betway Premiership, thanks to the talent they possess. In the last campaign, both teams achieved victories against each other, but it was the Brazilians who emerged victorious overall, claiming their eighth consecutive league title.
When will Sundowns host Orlando Pirates?
Sundowns and Pirates are scheduled to play at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 1 November, in a Betway Premiership match.
The kickoff for the match is set for 15:30, and the game will be televised on SABC 1 as well as on SuperSport channels.
The last league meeting between the two teams was in April, where Relebohile Mofokeng scored twice in a 2-1 victory for the Buccaneers. However, Mofokeng might miss the upcoming match against Sundowns as he continues to recover from injury.
In terms of injuries at Sundowns, the only player likely to be unavailable for Saturday’s match against Pirates is Iqraam Rayners. The ex-Stellenbosch star was withdrawn from the Bafana squad earlier this month due to a medical condition.
Key players from both teams
Masandawana will look to apply pressure on young defenders Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Lebone Seema early in the game.
Key players to watch in attacking positions include Tashreeq Matthews, Jayden Adams, and Arthur Sales. For Orlando Pirates, the team will rely on their wingers to challenge the likes of Aubrey Modiba and Khuliso Mudau, to stretch Sundowns’ defence.
Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi are currently among the most in-form wingers in the league and will be eager to score against Masandawana.