It looks like Orlando Pirates will hit the season running hard after drawing fellow Sowetans Moroka Swallows in the opening round of Premiership fixtures in the 2014/15 season.

The Buccaneers will host the Dube Birds in what has become known as the original Soweto Derby.

Normally, we as supporters have been accustomed to savouring such encounters during the course of the season once we’ve settled into the rhythm of league, but not this time.

Pirates PRO Mickey Modisane has welcomed the fixture, saying that it’s good for the Bucs to play at a big match at this stage. “The good thing is that we’re playing at home, so we’ll need to open our league campaign with a win," Modisane said.

More than anything, this will be a tough challenge for  Vladimir Vermezović.

Do you welcome such an important fixture so early on in the season?