Orlando Pirates will look to secure their spot in the CAF Champions’ League group stage when they host Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy in the deciding leg of their final preliminary round match-up this weekend.
The crucial fixture takes place at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, seven days after the Buccaneers claimed a significant advantage in the tie with victory in the away leg.
Form Guide
A month and a half into the new season, the home side remains unbeaten and come off a dramatic league win at home to Chippa United in midweek.
This was their fourth victory in as many matches played in Soweto and their fifth win overall.In their seven outings so far in the ongoing campaign, the only blemishes to the Soweto Giants’ record have been stalemates against Madagascar champions Disciples and local rivals Cape Town City, both occurring away from home.
Having claimed their first away win last Saturday against Galaxy, they will be looking to carve a seamless path into the next round of the Champions League with another victory.
Meanwhile, the visitors will head to Soweto determined to launch another comeback, having done so in the previous round after losing the away leg to Namibia’s African Stars with a 1-0 scoreline.
Dinaledi, as they are affectionately known, avenged the defeat at home and forced the tie into penalties where they eventually prevailed.
Their three Champions League fixtures have been their only outings so far this season, with their domestic league only set to get underway later in the month.
Team News
Changes could be seen in both camps in the second leg, with the likes of Thabang Sesinyi and Onkabetse Makgantai likely to feature more prominently for the visitors after starting from the bench in the previous encounter.
For the hosts, there could be bigger roles for Boitumelo Radiopane and Thuso Moleleki, who both made cameos in midweek.
Zakhele Lepasa and Goodman Mosele remain on the mend after sustaining ankle and knee injuries respectively, while a return to action looms for Paseka Mako who recently resumed full training.