Orlando Pirates can move AHEAD of Kaizer Chiefs, BUT …

Orlando Pirates will be in action on Tuesday, 12 April when they travel to Polokwane to play Baroka FC in a DStv Premiership assignment.

Kick-off is at 19:30.

READ: Gavin Hunt names Chiefs’ former star as Mzansi’s best ever

The Buccaneers are currently in fifth place in the DStv Premiership standings with 38 points after 24 matches.

Victory – and the three points – would see Orlando Pirates move up to third place in the log, knocking bitter Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs out of a CAF Confederation Cup spot.

However, while the Buccaneers would be two points ahead of Amakhosi, the Glamour Boys would have three matches in hand.

What’s better? Points in the bank or games in hand?

READ | DSTV PREMIERSHIP TOP 10 GOAL SCORERS – 2021/22

Peter Mokaba Stadium will host the clash which promises to be an enticing contest between two teams on different ends of the table with the current campaign now well into the final stretch. 

Form guide 

Nothing short of three points will do for the home side, who are down at the very bottom of the league table after picking up just 17 points in their 24 games.

Their recent form has not helped their situation, with just one win picked up in their last seven games.

Baroka were also in action over the weekend, crashing out of the Nedbank Cup via a narrow defeat at the hands of Marumo Gallants on Saturday.

For the visitors, it has been close to a week since they last took to the field, and they will be eager to build on the victory earned in their last outing.

Pirates defeated Sekhukhune United on the road last Wednesday to make it two wins in as many league games, and three more points on Tuesday could push them up to third place from fifth.

READ | KAIZER CHIEFS TRANSFER NEWS: R3 MILLION-WORTH STRIKER CERTAIN TO LEAVE?

Team news 

The return of defender Olisa Ndah will provide a welcome boost for the Buccaneers, after the player sat out the game against Sekhukhune United as he served out a one-match ban.

Baroka FC will also be welcoming a player back from suspension, with midfielder Tshepo Mokhabi now eligible for selection after being red-carded during a 5-1 defeat away to Cape Town City.

READ | SIMBA SC: WHO ARE ORLANDO PIRATES’ CAF CONFEDERATION CUP OPPONENTS?

Key players 

Goodman Mosele (Orlando Pirates): The young midfielder has been a figure of consistency since his arrival at the Buccaneers, and will again be a key cog in the side’s engine room in what will be his first game against his former side.

Denwin Farmer (Baroka): In what has been an overall difficult season for Bakgakga, the highly-rated defender has emerged as one of the standout players for the club.

READ | KAIZER CHIEFS FANS PRAISE R6 MILLION-WORTH STAR, URGE BAXTER TO PLAY HIM

Head-to-head 

No goals were scored when the two sides met at Orlando Stadium earlier in the season, as they played to their first goalless draw in their history.

Since first locking horns in the league over five years ago, Pirates and Baroka have mostly played to draws, with eight stalemates recorded in their 11 encounters.

The other three games have all gone the way of the Buccaneers, who will be eager to protect their proud unbeaten record against the Limpopo-based outfit. 

READ | PETRO DE LUANDA: WHO ARE SUNDOWNS’ CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OPPONENTS?

How to watch Baroka FC v Orlando Pirates 

The match will be televised live on SuperSport, BUT for the very best coverage of the clash be sure to check out The South African website.