Pirates face Stellenbosch looking to secure top-three finish

Orlando Pirates will square off with Stellenbosch FC in their final 2019/20 Absa Premiership match at the Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 3:30 om CAT.

The Buccaneers kept their hopes of finishing in the top three alive when they defeated Maritzburg United 1-0 in midweek and it was also their second successive win.

The victory took Pirates to the fourth spot on the league standings - a point behind third-placed SuperSport United with both teams keen to qualify for next season's Caf Confederation Cup.

Josef Zinnbauer, the Pirates coach, is keen to ensure that his side secures a top-three finish in the league in his first season with the Soweto giants.

“We have the last game and that’s important for us to take the three points and [then] we have nine points [from the last three games] and then the season will be okay for us," Zinnbauer said.

"Maybe we have a chance for that place [top three] and when we have the chance, we have to take this. This is the target we have in the last game.”

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch's ambitions of securing a top-eight finish are still alive despite their 1-1 draw with AmaZulu FC and they stretched their unbeaten run to five league matches.

Stellies are placed 10th on the league standings - two points behind eighth-placed Highlands Park as the Western Cape side look to qualify for the MTN8 for the first time.

Steve Barker, the Stellenbosch coach, reflected on their current form having recorded three successive draws and he praised his strikers Ashley Du Preez, Leletu Skelem and Waseem Isaacs.

"This is a testimony of how far we have come as a team to be disappointed for not being able to win our [recent] games," Barker said.

"It is good to see that our strikers are getting onto the score sheet. It is through hard work and they continue to believe in themselves and the belief from us in them."

Orlando Pirates: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kabelo Dlamini: The attacking midfielder came off the bench to register his third assist of the season in the league as Bucs secured a win over Maritzburg. Dlamini will be hoping to start and inspire Pirates to their third successive win.

Frank Mhango: The Malawian hitman ended his eight-match goal drought when he scored against Maritzburg and he remains the league's joint-topscorer with 15 goals. Mhango will be determined to add to his tally and scoop the Golden Boot award.

Stellenbosch: PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ashley Du Preez: The young attacker maintained his good form for Stellies by registering his second assist in as many league matches against AmaZulu. Du Preez will be eager to play an integral role in helping Stellies stun Pirates.

Leletu Skelem: The in-form forward is now Stellenbosch's first-choice striker having netted his third goal from his last three league matches in the draw with AmaZulu. Skelem could be the key to a Stellenbosch win over the Soweto giants.

Head-to-Head

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2019/20 Stellenbosch 1-0 Pirates Rayners

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2019/20)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 0 0 0 0 0 0

Stellenbosch 1 1 0 0 1 0

Away

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 1 0 0 1 0 1

Stellenbosch 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total

P W D L GF GA

Pirates 1 0 0 1 0 1

Stellenbosch 1 1 0 0 1 0