Sundowns welcome struggling Pirates

The Buccaneers’ season is in serious danger of falling apart already; a goalless draw at Platinum Stars in midweek their fifth league game in a row without a win.

Augusto Palacios’ side are already three points behind Pitso Mosimane’s Brazilians, despite having played four games more, and are nine points adrift of league leaders SuperSport United, Bidvest Wits and Cape Town City.

Pirates also appear no closer to appointing a permanent coach, with Palacios battling to find results after a decent start in his latest caretaker role.

The Buccaneers will go into this game without goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo, after he had to go off injured in Phokeng on Wednesday. Jackson Mabokgwane is likely to start in his place.

It remains to be seen if any of Pirates’ new signings – Marc van Heerden, James Okwuosa and Dove Wome – are given a chance against Sundowns, who are in an excellent position, even though their league title defence has been held up by their success in the Caf Champions League and their participation in the 2016 Fifa Club World Cup.

Sundowns currently sit just six points off the top of the table, with four games in hand on Wits, five games in hand on SuperSport, and six in hand on Cape Town City.

They showed a champion’s mentality again in midweek, when they picked up a hard-fought 1-0 win at Bloemfontein Celtic.

Themba Zwane took his goal particularly well, and it is likely that he will get more of a chance in the starting line-up now that Keagan Dolly has gone to Montpellier.

Mosimane also handed a debut to Algerian left back Fares Hachi in the game against Celtic, making him the first man from that country to play in the South African top flight.

Sundowns did do a league double over Pirates last season as they romped to the title, winning this corresponding fixture at Loftus 2-0 with goals from Leonardo Castro and Khama Billiat.

It was Pirates, however, who were triumphant in Atteridgeville on April 23, as they beat Sundowns 2-0 after extra time to reach the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup.

Tendai Ndoro got the first goal in that game and a return to form for the Zimbabwean striker is likely to be key to Bucs having any sort of chance this afternoon.