This second league encounter in the space of a few days between the two sides takes place at Orlando Stadium, with the Buccaneers back in familiar territory after two weeks on the road. It also marks a departure from home comforts for Abafana Bes’thende, who gear up for their first away fixture this month.

Form Guide

Three straight matches away from home have produced mixed results for the Soweto Giants. The most recent of these was a devastating defeat in the Nedbank Cup final where they lost 2-1 to rivals Kaizer Chiefs, falling short of a third consecutive title.

The defeat at Moses Mabhida had been preceded by back-to-back league wins including one at the same venue against the team they are hosting on Tuesday. The six points earned in those two matches have secured a finish in the top two with another 15 up for grabs in the remainder of the season.

This will require bouncing back in their backyard, where they suffered a rare slip-up in their last home outing. That narrow defeat to Sekhukhune was only the second in 11 home games for Pirates, who have claimed victory in each of their other nine league fixtures in Soweto. They have conceded just seven goals in the process, while finding the net 23 times.

For the visitors, the change of venue will be a welcome one after a lengthy stay at home failed to yield a single point in three attempts. This has placed them in unwanted territory in the standings, where they currently languish in 14th place with just four games left to play.

It has been a disappointing campaign for Arrows who have been a feature in the contest for a spot in the top eight in recent years, finishing ninth for three seasons running. Those heights are still mathematically possible through a remarkable turnaround, starting with three points at Orlando Stadium.

That will be no mean feat, however, as their struggles have extended well beyond their home base. They boast just three wins in 11 games on the road with their last away victory dating back to early March when they stunned Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Having managed a measly two points in their last five fixtures home and away, Abafana Bes’thende now face the immense task of rescuing their season as they set their sights on a wounded Bucs side.

Team News

The visitors have been bolstered by the return of midfielder Blessing Mchunu, who missed last week’s encounter in Durban. The 24-year-old has served his one-match suspension and is now part of his side’s options for the clash in Orlando.

Pirates meanwhile could be tempted to make a few changes for the fixture following a bruising weekend assignment against their biggest rivals.

They have picked up no fresh suspensions over the past week and will welcome two key players back to league action after both sat out the previous encounter between the two sides. Defender Nkosinathi Sibisi will relish against his former side after a red card ruled him out of the match held in Durban, while Thalente Mbatha makes his first Premiership appearance since the Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium.

Key Players

Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates): The big striker provides extra height and physicality up front and will be high in confidence after getting on the scoresheet in consecutive starts. He sits on 10 goals in all competitions this season, and will be determined to increase that figure as he faces off against Arrows.

Siyanda Mthanti (Golden Arrows): The young winger has been one of the shining lights in a season that has not gone his side’s way. Mthanti has so far contributed to five of Arrows’ goals this season – a figure which includes last Tuesday’s equaliser against the Buccaneers.

Head-to-Head

The midweek win over Abafana Bes’thende further cemented the Buccaneers’ dominance in the fixture. It extended their winning streak to five matches, and they have the opportunity to claim a third consecutive league double should they emerge victorious in Soweto.

Arrows meanwhile chase a rare away win over Pirates. It’s a feat they last achieved nearly 10 years ago when second-half goals from Kudakwashe Mahachi and Gladwin Shitolo secured a 2-0 upset at Orlando Stadium. 

While the Soweto Giants have had a clear upper hand on home soil since then – posting three convincing victories, they have not always achieved the desired results with stalemates standing out as the most common outcome. A total of five out of the eight matches played in Pirates backyard during this period have finished in a share of the spoils, with all failing to produce a goal.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

Kick-off is at 19:30 with the fixture televised live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will be provided across Orlando Pirates social media channels.

Tickets are available for sale online on OpenTickets while physical tickets can be purchased at various Shoprite, Checkers, and USave outlets nationwide.

The Moses Mabhida Stadium hosts this crucial league encounter, originally scheduled to get underway earlier in the year. It’s all-systems-go this time around with the Buccaneers stepping on the famous turf for the first of two massive outings lined up at the World Cup venue this week.

Form Guide

The attention is fully on the midweek assignment and the three points on offer, with the Soweto Giants continuing in their quest to close the gap between themselves and the log leaders. They are 12 points adrift in second place, following a come-from-behind Soweto Derby win against rivals Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium over the weekend.

That not only handed them important points and bragging rights, but also stretched their unbeaten run on the road to four matches where they have won three and drawn just once. Another winning performance in Durban will see them hit three consecutive away wins for the first time in the ongoing season.

In their 11 league fixtures away from home, Pirates have emerged on the winning side seven times with one draw and three defeats. They stand to cross the 50-point mark in their overall tally should they overcome Arrows on Tuesday.

A combination of unpredictability and some desperation from their hosts could however make that task even trickier. Arrows come into the clash amid a run of four matches without a win, having suffered back-to-back defeats at home to AmaZulu and Stellenbosch over the past week. It’s an unwanted streak that has placed them near the basement in 14th place, also making them the worst-performing side on home soil at this point of the campaign.

They have only claimed a lowly 14 points through three wins and five draws at home, and have endured a goal drought as hosts since last finding the net in a 2-1 win over Chiefs at Moses Mabhida in March. While inspiration has been scant in recent weeks, a return to the same venue could provide a much-needed spark as they look to vanquish another Soweto Giant. 

Team News

At least one change will be made to the Pirates team that lined up in Soweto on Saturday, with suspension ruling out a couple of first-team regulars.

Defender Nkosinathi Sibisi remains out as he serves the second game in his two-match suspension. He is joined on the sidelines by midfielder Thalente Mbatha who is unavailable only for this match following his caution in the Derby, which triggered a one-match ban.

Their hosts will also be missing a key member of their playing personnel in attacking midfielder Blessing Mchunu. The 25-year-old is ruled out for the fixture after picking up his fourth yellow of the season in the defeat to Stellenbosch.

Key Players

Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates): So far in his short career, the teenager has displayed the ability to adapt to all sorts of challenges and faces another different prospect on his return to his home province. Mbokazi has not only proven defensively sound, but makes notable contributions on attack through his pinpoint passing from an array of angles.

Velemseni Ndwandwe (Golden Arrows): The Arrows midfield workhorse has been one of the KZN side’s most reliable players, featuring for the full 90 in each of the 19 league matches he’s appeared in this season. Ndwandwe’s relentless engine makes him a driving force in the centre of the park, capable of impacting both ends of the pitch.

Head-to-Head

With this being the first encounter between the two sides this season, their last clash may seem a distant memory, but that is likely not the case for both sets of players given the remarkable scoreline on the day. On that occasion, Pirates emerged victorious by some margin in claiming a 7-1 win, with Tshegofatso Mabasa netting three of the goals scored.

It was their fourth consecutive triumph against the Durbanites, who have now gone four years since registering a win. The Buccaneers have also rather unsurprisingly dominated the goal-scoring charts, accounting for 14 of the 17 goals scored in the six encounters since that upset at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The fixture kicks off at 19:30 and will be televised live on SuperSport PSL. Live updates will also be provided across all Orlando Pirates social media channels.