BUCS

Orlando Pirates will be gunning for another win when they visit the struggling Bidvest Wits in the Absa Premiership on Saturday evening at Bidvest Stadium.

Kick-off is at 6:00pm.

Coach Milutin Sredojevic has started the season on a high as they have managed to remain unbeaten in five matches so far.

Sitting at the top of the table as joint log leaders is a huge motivation to the Soweto giants and the mission is to keep going.

Fresh from a win over Ajax Cape Town and their midweek victory over Cape Town City means they have what it takes to add to Wits woes.

On the part of the league champions, the Clever Boys are having their worst start in the season as they are yet to win in 90 minutes in all competitions.

They have two draws and three losses, their most recent coming from KwaZulu-Natal sides such as Abafana Bes’thende and AmaZulu.

Previous starting XI

Bidvest Wits: Wits: Josephs, Hlatshwayo, Khumalo, Hlanti, Scott, Motshwari, Ntshangase, Pule, Claasen, Pienaar, Gamal

Orlando Pirates: Sandilands, Jele, Nyauza, Maela, Dube, Matlaba, Nyatama, Qalinge, Makola, Lorch, Morrison

Head-to- Head

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2012/13 Pirates 2-0 Wits Matlaba, Segolela

2012/13 Wits 0-1 Pirates Myeni

2013/14 Pirates 2-1 Wits Pelembe, Erasmus; Vilakazi

2013/14 Wits 0-0 Pirates

2014/15 Pirates 1-0 Wits Sangweni

2014/15 Wits 2-0 Pirates Kadi 2

2015/16 Pirates 0-1 Wits Klate

2015/16 Wits 1-0 Pirates Keene

2016/17 Pirates 1-2 Wits Jele; Mhango 2

2016/17 Wits 1-0 Pirates Malajila

LEAGUE RECORD (since 1985)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Wits 32 10 11 11 30 31

Pirates 31 14 10 7 35 24

Away

P W D L GF GA

Wits 31 7 10 14 24 35

Pirates 32 11 11 10 31 30

Total

P W D L GF GA

Wits 63 17 21 25 54 66

Pirates 63 25 21 17 66 54

What the teams are saying

Bidvest Wits midfielder Steven Pienaar:

“At the moment it is not falling for us. We have to keep on working hard,” said Pienaar.

“My whole family supports Pirates. It will be an emotional weekend. It is a good way to bounce back to playing against the top club.

“They’ve been playing well lately. We have to take it as it comes. It’s been difficult.

“It is disappointing when you are not winning games. We are all down. As the defending league champions we will always face challenges against any other opposition in the league because they want to beat us.”

Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic:

“We are critical for every game behind us in order for us to improve, we believe there are so many aspects where we can improve,” said Sredojevic.

“We need to attack, defend and play much better towards the goal because we know the champions, Bidvest Wits.

“They are not an easy team especially at their own stadium. We will go and play the game and we shall see what kind of football we will play on that game.”

Key players for Bidvest Wits:

Bongani Khumalo: With loads of experience at the back, Khumalo will be the man tasked with ensuring the club bounces to its glory. Together with skipper, Thulani Hlatshwayo, they have a huge role to play against a big side like Pirates.

Granwald Scott: Scott is another man coach Gavin Hunt will call upon to ensure they stop Pirates attacks from the midfield.

Key players for Orlando Pirates:

Thabo Matlaba: Although one would say the skipper did not take responsibility in front of goal against City, he remains a key member of the side. He initiates good moves for the club going forward and will be the man to watch on Saturday.

Ntsikelelo Nyauza: Nyauza has re-established himself under Micho and he will want to cement the right back spot. His duty is to neutralise the likes of Elias Pelembe and Daine Klate on the day to ensure they do not deliver their trademark crosses.