Sekhukhune United head coach Lehlohonolo Seema is refusing to get carried away by their recent run of good form as they prepare to take on SuperSport United at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Sunday, January 12.
Kick-off is at 5:45pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
CURRENT FORM:
Babina Noko have largely impressed this season, with the only hiccups coming against Royal AM, TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns before the festive break.
Seema's side are challenging for a top-three berth and have gone unbeaten in their last four Betway Premiership matches since being beaten 3-0 by Bafana ba Style on November 30.
The Limpopo outfit recorded back-to-back 1-0 wins over Cape Town City and Marumo Gallants before starting the new year with a 1-1 draw against Polokwane City on January 5.
Sekhukhune then beat AmaZulu 2-0 three days later to make it three wins in their last four outings as they closed within two points of Rise And Shine (3rd) in fourth place with two games in hand.
SuperSport have not been in action since they played out to a 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch on December 28, signing off 2024 on a three-game unbeaten sequence and losing just one of their last five outings.
Matsatsantsa have subsequently dropped down to eighth position following Cape Town City's 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates on January 8 which lifted them up to sixth in the standings.
Gavin Hunt's side were robbed of key players through injury in the first half of the campaign and they will be hoping for better fortunes in the months to come, having looked much better as a team against the Maroons most recently.
WHAT WAS SAID:
SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt
"'I thought we played well at times (against Stellenbosch) and we created some really good chances, some good patterns of play, and some good movements.
"All in all are we happy, no, but we are playing well and look better as a team."
Sekhukhune United head coach Lehlohonolo Seema
"We are not excited but humble we remain. We've played just 11 games and there's still a long way to go... There's still a lot to come.
"We are underdogs. We are looking forward to our next game, a difficult one against SuperSport [United]."
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
SuperSport United - Tashreeq Morris has had to shoulder the burden in attack following the injury suffered by Bradley Grobler in the MTN8 which sidelined him for the opening three months of the season. The 30-year-old striker, who only joined Matsatsantsa in October after being released by Babina Noko five months earlier, will look to haunt his former club, having scored his second goal of the campaign against Stellies.
Sekhukhune United - Andy Boyeli is still finding his feet in South Africa after making the switch from Power Dynamos in July. The 23-year-old striker scored on his debut against Magesi, but had to wait another nine games before getting on the scoresheet again. It was a quality goal against Usuthu as he held off the challenge of Taariq Fielies inside the box before firing home off the right post on 45 minutes.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: (Last Five Betway Premiership Meetings)
Matches - 5
SuperSport wins - 1
Sekhukhune wins - 2
Draws - 2