Orlando Pirates Reserves gear up for a crunch fixture in the DStv Diski Challenge where they face Stellenbosch in KwaMhlanga on Sunday morning.
Solomon Mahlangu Stadium hosts this enticing clash between two sides who have spent the bulk of the season in a fiercely contested battle for the Reserve League title.
Form Guide
In second place with five fixtures remaining, the summit is well within reach for Stellies who are only two points behind the table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns.
They have been in good form heading into the match, winning four of their last five games while netting an impressive 14 goals in the process.
A shock defeat away to Cape Town Spurs is the only blemish on their record over the past five weeks. They have since bounced back with a 2-1 win against title rivals Sundowns as well as AmaZulu who they edged in a 3-2 home victory.
Stellenbosch will be looking to repeat the feat away to a Pirates side fresh off rediscovering the winning feeling after a tough period that saw their title hopes derailed.
The Buccaneers’ 4-0 win over Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows was their first in over a month and took their tally to just five in their last five outings.
Their two draws and as many defeats in the weeks leading up to their visit to Dobsonville Stadium have seen their pursuit of the championship slip off their own hands as they are currently seven points away from the summit.
Three points on Sunday will help maintain some optimism while still needing to collect all available points and hope for some good fortune in the form of further slip-ups from the top two in the remainder of the campaign.
Head-to-Head
Bucs Reserves go into the game looking for a rare win against Stellies, who have had a slight upper hand in the fixture in recent seasons.
The last victory for the Soweto Giants came in October 2021 when a sole strike from Mpumelelo Ndaba gave them three points away from home.
Since then, the two sides have played to two stalemates with the team from the Winelands emerging victorious in both games that have produced a result. This includes the reverse fixture, where a second-half strike in the game played at Idas Valley Sports Ground sunk the Buccaneers.
How to Watch Orlando Pirates Reserves vs Stellenbosch Reserves
The game is scheduled to get underway at 10:00, and will be televised live on Variety 4. You can also follow the live action by keeping an eye on live updates shared across all Orlando Pirates social media platforms.
Entry at the match venue is free.
