Absa Premiership
Teams: Orlando Pirates v SuperSport United
Date: 18 January 2014
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United will clash in the first Absa Premiership fixture of the New Year at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
There are some new players in both teams with Helder Pelembe on the Pirates bench while Lebogang Manyama will start for SuperSport. Also on the Super Sport bench is new ignings Dino Ndlovu and Brandon Dean.
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 Soweto giants have had mixed results at home this season, with three wins and two defeats from five matches.
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 just one defeat.
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.
Here is how they line up.
Pirates: Senzo Meyiwa, Happy Jele, Thabo Matlaba, Lucky Lekgwathi, Ayanda Gcaba, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Sifiso Myeni, Daine Klate, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Kermit Erasmus.
SuperSport: Ronwen Williams, Aupa Moeketsi, Bevan Fransman, Mor Diouf, Sibusiso Khumalo, Edwin Gyimah, David Mkhabela, Lebogang Manyama, Bennett Chenene, David Mathebula, Bradley Grobler.
