Red-hot Pirates out to complete Richards Bay double

Orlando Pirates will be looking to complete a double over Richards Bay when they meet in Tuesday's Betway Premiership encounter at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

The Buccaneers have enjoyed one of their best starts to a league campaign having defeated TS Galaxy 2-0 on Tuesday to maintain their 100 per cent win record - recording six victories from six matches this season.

Therefore, Pirates are placed at the top of the Betway Premiership standings - three points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns and a win over Richards Bay would see the Soweto giants open a six-point lead.

Richards Bay, on the other hand, are brimming with confidence after returning to winning albeit on penalties when they defeated Cape Town City 5-4 after a 0-0 draw in the Carling Knockout on Saturday - snapping a two-match winless run.

The Natal Rich Boys find themselves placed 12th in the Betway Premiership standings - three points behind the seven-placed SuperSport United and a victory over Pirates would elevate them into the top eight.

TEAM NEWS

Deano van Rooyen has joined the likes of Thabiso Lebitso, Olisa Ndah, Zakhele Lepasa, Sandile Mthethwa and Goodman Mosele on Pirares' injury list, but Bucs have no suspension concerns.

Meanwhile, Richards Bay will be without the services of Langelihle Mhlongo and Yanela Mbuthuma who are both suspended and the club is yet to report injuries in their camp.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro

"There's a lot of things to refine, like you saw today [Tuesday], we were not better than Galaxy in some moments of the game, where we were dominated as well but we managed again to pull ourselves," Riveiro said.

"One more time I think the people were incredible, pushing us, in the moments we were struggling a little bit and together we have managed to have a fantastic beginning of the season, something that we were crying for in the previous two [seasons].

"So now it's time to find the spaces where we can still do things better, which is not always possible in football and consolidate the good job we did in the beginning of the season."

Richards Bay head coach Brandon Truter

“Any win is good, but consistency is important, especially at home. As much as we are happy, and there are a lot of positives from the game, we can’t ignore the fact that we haven’t scored a goal," Truter said.

“Goals are far and few between and they come from set plays at the moment. So, it’s an area of concern, an area we are working on right now, and that is one of the challenges we are facing.

"But so far on the road, our losses have come away, whereas last season Richards Bay picked up more points on the road. So, it has turned around. We will work on it and we will set it up. Like I said, it is important for this team not to lose from here.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Relebohile Mofokeng, Orlando Pirates; The 20-year-old is in great form at the moment having provided two assists and scored one goal in his last two matches. Mofokeng will carry Pirates' hopes of completing a league double over Richards Bay as Bucs won 1-0 in KZN on 29 September.

Ntlonelo Bomelo, Richards Bay: The South Africa under-20 international led the Richards Bay attack very well against Cape Town City and he was unlucky not to score on the day. Bomelo will be keen to reward Truter's faith in him by inspiring the Natal Rich Boys to a win at the Orlando Stadium.

Head-to-Head

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2022/23 Pirates 0-0 Bay

2022/23 Bay 0-2 Pirates Dzvukamanja, Saleng

2023/24 Bay 0-0 Pirates

2023/24 Pirates 0-1 Bay Barns

2023/24 Bay 0-1 Pirates Dlamini

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2022/23)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 2 0 1 1 0 1

Bay 3 0 1 2 0 3

Away

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 3 2 1 0 3 0

Bay 2 1 1 0 1 0

Total

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 5 2 2 1 3 1

Bay 5 1 2 2 1 3