adminOrlando Pirates are at home this Saturday afternoon welcoming Superport United for their final Absa Premiership encounter at Orlando Stadium.
Kick-off is at 3:00pm.
The two giants are scheduled to meet twice in a space of a week — the first meeting is a league tie in Soweto and the other is the Nedbank Cup final next weekend.
Eric Tinkler is aware that should the Buccaneers fail to qualify for the MTN8 Cup next season by not finishing in the top eight, he will be the first manager to fail to do so.
Pirates form has dropped in their previous three league games having lost to Platinum Stars 2-1 and registering two goalless draws against Polokwane City and Maritzburg United.
However, they are fresh from a 4-2 win over Free State Stars in the Ke Yona cup semifinal last weekend and will now be motivated.
The Sea Robbers currently sit at number seven with 40 points and the target is to claim the full three points and seal their qualification for the MTN8 next season.
In their first round clash, Stuart Baxter’s side claimed the full three points at home in Polokwane and this means revenge is what Pirates will want.
Coach Tinkler believes both matches are equally important for his team and will aim to bag victories.
“Both matches are very important, two cup finals, two massive games, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” Tinkler said.
“It was important for us to rebuild the team. They showed a positive attitude in the game against Free State Stars.
“It is also important to secure our top eight position and then win the Nedbank Cup later on.
“We first play them in the league and it is important we get a result before going to the Final.”
On the part of United, the Tshwane side is also fresh from a 2-0 win over Baroka FC in the Ke Yona competition and are in high spirits.
Amatsantsantsa A Pitori are chasing their second victory over Pirates and that could ensure they participate in the first tournament of the season, the MTN8.
United are enjoying some good form as they wrap their campaign and looking at their past three matches, they’re a confident side.
They drew 2-2 against Polokwane City at home and managed to collect a point at home to Mpumalanga Black Aces before beating Baroka.
Ahead of the match, defender Clayton Daniels says their aim is to accumulate the full three points in Soweto.
“I think we should go out and try to accumulate maximum points and not rely on other results — it is as simple as that,” Daniels said.
“After the slow start to the season we are in a position to redeem ourselves.
“Everything is basically in our hands. The guys are still very positive and hopefully we can end on a high.
“This is where our coach (Stuart Baxter) deserves a lot of credit.
“I think the team has found its identity of how we can and should play, and it’s starting to pay off.
“This just shows the difference what subtle changes can make in a team.”
Absa Premiership | FIXTURES
Saturday 21 May: Kaizer Chiefs v Chippa United (FNB Stadium), University of Pretoria v Golden Arrows (Tuks Stadium), Orlando Pirates v SuperSport United (Orlando Stadium), Mamelodi Sundowns v Platinum Stars ( Lucas Moripe Stadium), Ajax Cape Town v Bidvest Wits (Cape Town Stadium), Jomo Cosmos v Maritzburg (Utd Olen Park), Bloem Celtic v Polokwane City (Dr Molemela Stadium) , Black Aces v Free State Stars ( Mbombela Stadium) — Supersport.
derick.khumalo