Orlando Pirates takes on United

ORLANDO – “It has been a hard few months for us last year, but gave our players a good rest over the holidays and hopefully we can have a solid second half of the season,” said Roger Da Sa, Orlando Pirates trainer at the press conference on Wednesday January 15 . “We are used to playing lots of matches in only a few weeks and don’t think we will have difficulties catching up in the league.

“Our players are positive and if we manage our squad well we will get through the next few month until May when the league comes to an end.”

Pirates come into the game having secured three successive wins at the back end of 2013, the last of which was a 3-1 home win over Golden Arrows.

The Southern-based team have had mixed results at home this season, with three wins and two defeats in five matches.

Their next three league opponents are AmaZulu (away), Ajax Cape Town (home) and Bidvest Wits (away).

The Buccaneers are placed 11th on the Absa Premiership log with 16 points from eight matches.

SuperSport have won just one of their last six league matches and ended 2013 with a 1-1 draw away to rookies Polokwane City.

The Tshwane side has claimed nine points from their six away matches this season, suffering only one defeat.

Their next three league opponents are AmaZulu (home), Kaizer Chiefs (away) and Mpumalanga Black Aces (home).

Matsatsantsa are placed sixth on the Absa Premiership log with 20 points from 13 matches.

In head-to-head stats, Pirates and SuperSport have met in 44 league matches since 1990.

Bucs boast 20 wins compared to 13 for United, while 11 matches have been drawn.

Pirates have a strong home record against SuperSport, with 11 wins and just five defeats from 22 matches down the years.

Bucs took four points off Matsatsantsa last season, drawing 0-0 in Tshwane before winning 1-0 in the return match in Soweto.