Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have announced their starting XIs, as the two South African giants meet for the fourth time in an official game this season.
Their first two meetings were in the two-legged MTN8 semi-final last year.
In the first leg at the Orlando Stadium, it ended goalless, in an even game with few chances at goal for both sides.
But Pirates, en route to winning the MTN8 tournament, stunned Sundowns 3-0 in the second leg at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, ending the Brazilians’ hopes of defending the trophy.
Monnapule Saleng announced himself in the black-and-white, scoring twice and assisting Kermit Erasmus’ goal. The Gqeberha-born Erasmus had only just returned to Pirates, after leaving Sundowns on the transfer deadline day.
That result also led to the Sundowns hierarchy reshuffling the technical team, with Rulani Mokwena taking over as sole Head Coach, with former co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi redeployed to the ‘Senior Coach’ role, and Steve Komphela stepping up into the ‘First Team Coach’ position.
The next official meeting was at Loftus Stadium on the 30th of December, as the DStv Premiership resumed after the almost two-month break for the FIFA World Cup, and it was Sundowns who got the three points as Mothobi Mvala and Cassius Mailula scored in a 2-0 triumph.
Pirates and Sundowns did also meet in the ‘friendly’ Carling Black Label Cup tournament final, just before the FIFA World Cup kicked off in November, and that was a game the Buccaneers would prefer to forget as Sundowns ran out 4-0 victors. Mailula scored a brace, and there were also goals from Sphelele Mkhulise and Grant Kekana.
Both teams head into the game at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon in good form, especially the league leaders, with Sundowns on a record run of 14 wins in a row.
Fourth-placed Bucs are also looking in good knick, and have won their last three games, but they are 24 points behind Masandawana, albeit with two games in hand.
This will be Sundowns’ only DStv Premiership fixture in February. They will face Richards Bay the following week in the Nedbank Cup round of 32, before turning their focus to the CAF Champions League. After hosting Al Hilal Omdurman, they will take on Al Ahly and Cotonsport in away fixtures, and only resume league action in the first week of March when they travel to the Western Cape to meet Stellenbosch.
After taking on Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit All Stars in their Nedbank Cup tie, Pirates will play two more league games in February. They will host Maritzburg United on the 17th of the month, before heading to the FNB Stadium to play Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby on the 25th.
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Here is how they line up:
Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Sibisi, Maela, Shandu, Hotto, Monare, Timm, Mosel, Saleng, Erasmus.
Subs: Mpontshane, Martin, Mako, Mthethwa, Dlamini, Pule, Ndlondlo, Dzvukamanja, Mabena.
Sundowns XI: Williams, Morena, Mudau, Mvala, Kekana, Mokoena, Maema, Zwane, Mkhulise, Mailula, Shalulile
Subs:
