Pirates vs SuperSport MTN8 preview

Here is everything you need to know as the Soweto giants take on Matsatsantsa in the opening match

Orlando Pirates will be hoping for a positive start in their defence of the MTN8 against SuperSport United on Saturday.

The quarter-final meeting sees the Soweto giants begin the journey to a third straight MTN8 title but they will have to overcome Gavin Hunt’s men to proceed to the semi-final.

SuperSport will draw inspiration from last season’s meeting with Pirates when they won one and drew the other of their two league meetings against Jose Riveiro’s men.

While Matsatsantsa finished seventh and the Soweto giants managed second place, they still beat Pirates 3-1 in the first leg before a 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture in the PSL which should give them a lot of belief heading into Saturday’s fixture.

WHAT THEY SAID

Riveiro is wary of the threat SuperSport pose following last season’s meetings where Hunt’s men proved hard to beat.

“SuperSport are a very tough opponent, it's a fact; we played them twice last season and we couldn't beat them,” Riveiro recalled the most recent meetings.

“We lost in Polokwane and managed to get a point in Orlando in the last game of the season, so we know it's going to be a difficult game but at the same time, we know where we want to go. But I think we are in a good space, trying to find the best way to start the season well by going to the MTN8 semi-final by overcoming SuperSport.”

Meanwhile, Hunt feels the game is coming too soon for his team which is still shaking off the holiday blues.

“We could have done with another week because our players only came in last week – four or five players – but hey, we have nothing to lose so we will have a go. We have a lot of new guys in, we have seven or eight starting XI players, so we don’t know, but a lot of them have a lot of experience,” said Hunt.

“You can be excited about pre-season and end up falling flat on your face in the first game. So, I’m not too excited or down, but I mean we need a game or two.”

TEAM NEWS

Orlando Pirates will likely unleash their new signings such as Angolan forward Gilberto, Thuso Moleleki, and former SuperSport midfielder Selaelo Rasebotja.

However, the Buccaneers will be without key members of the squad like Tapelo Xoki and Paseka Mako who are long-term injury absentees.

SuperSport, meanwhile, could unleash ex-Pirates midfielder Vincent Pule, who is among their new recruits alongside Pogiso Sanoka, Keanin Ayer, Nyiko Mobbie, Brooklyn Poggenpoel and Thakasani Mbanjwa.