Orlando Pirates have a perfect opportunity to play themselves into form when they welcome struggling Stellenbosch to the Orlando Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Kick-off is at 3.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
The Buccaneers suffered back-to-back defeats against Mamelodi Sundowns (2-0) and Cape Town City (2-1) on their return to action after the World Cup break to fall further behind in the race for CAF football.
However, a 3-1 victory over Golden Arrows last Saturday arrested a three-match losing streak in the DStv Premiership to lift Jose Riveiro's side up to fifth position, five points adrift of the top three.
Pirates haven't lost to Stellies in the league since October 2019 and they won't have a better chance to record successive wins for the first time this season, with the visitors horribly out of form at the moment.
Riveiro has revealed how much the recent run of poor results affected both him and his players but insists Bucs continue to give their all in the face of intense scrutiny.
"They know who they are, they know where they are playing and we all know we need to do our best because there's a lot of eyes following us, monitoring us," the Spaniard said.
"So we're in a team that cannot have a break. If we speak about performance, they are good competitors. One of the things we do during the week in almost every exercise, in every scenario, is compete.
"When we don't win they don't sleep. If I don't win I don't have dinner, I don't have sleep, I don't have breakfast. I have nothing you know, it's too much sometimes."
The Maroons have battled to replicate last season's form which saw them finish fifth in the standings after losing just five of their 30 matches.
Steve Barker's team have already been beaten six times this term, with a 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United last Saturday extended their winless run in the top flight to eight games.
The Cape Winelands outfit are just three points clear of rock-bottom Marumo Gallants in 13th spot and they're locked in a three-way tie with Swallows (14th) and Maritzburg United (15th) on 17 points.
Stellenbosch are one of the leading clubs for box entries per 90 minutes in the league and Barker acknowledges they just need to work on being more clinical in the 18-yard area.
"You have to get in the box first so we're doing that right, now it's obviously just finding ways to convert those box entries into goals and shots on target," he said.
"I think our return for goals scored is not the worst in the league (16 from 17 games), it's just sometimes conceding those type of goals that we just have to be a little better at."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Orlando Pirates
Monnapule Saleng: The 24-year-old winger continues to go from strength to strength this season after opening the scoring against Arrows and providing an assist for Terrence Dzvukamanja. Saleng, who now has three goals in eight league outings, should have added a second earlier on when he fired over from just eight yards out after being picked out by Deon Hotto.
Kabelo Dlamini: The 26-year-old attacking midfielder was handed his second consecutive start against Arrows and didn't disappoint, playing some delightful passes to release Kermit Erasmus and Hotto inside the box. Dlamini has yet to open his account for the campaign, although he does have one assist in 13 appearances.
Stellenbosch
Devon Titus: The 22-year-old winger is one of those guilty of not taking their chances this season as he's only managed one goal in 17 league appearances. Titus registered his first assist when he cut the ball back for Junior Mendieta to score in the recent 1-1 draw with Marumo Gallants but failed to score from close range himself earlier in the game.
Antonio Van Wyk: The absence of Mendieta (suspension) could open the door for the 20-year-old attacking midfielder to make his 12th start of the season against Pirates. Van Wyk came off the bench in the loss to Babina Noko last time out after starting against Gallants and he'll be looking to add to his tally of two goals and two assists if given the opportunity in Soweto.