Preview of the Soweto Derby
If there was ever a time when the Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates promised goals, then tomorrow will have to be the delivery date on the promise.
The two Soweto giants who will lock horns at the FNB Stadium in the first-leg of the MTN8 Cup competition are on-form and free scoring.
Pirates come into the match on the back of a clinical 4-1 demolition of Zamalek in the CAF Champions League while Chiefs have been invisible in their last two games, scoring four goals and conceding none.
Fans have been starved of goals in recent derbies, but with Pirates striker Lennox Bacela in such rich vein of form and the resurgence of the Amakhosi forward Siphiwe Tshabalala, it promises to rain goals.
Bacela has found the net on three occasions in the last two games while Shabba will look to improve on his stellar performance he put on for Bafana Bafana against Burkina Faso last weekend.
Bacela saved the Sea Robbers from the jaws of defeat with a brace against SuperSport United after trailing 2-0 in the last round of the competition. Shabba has been literally unplayable this season showing glimpse of his 2010 Fifa World Cup heroics.
Chiefs winger Siphiwe Tshabalala
The stats are heavily stacked against Roger de Sa who has yet to taste victory against Chiefs as coach of Pirates in three matches.
A loss could spell disaster in his bid to win over the hard-to-please Bucs faithful who have yet to warm up to him since he took over the reigns from Augusto Palacios last season, despite a solid run in the CAF Champions League.
The last time time the two teams met in the MTN8 was the 2011 final where Pirates claimed the R8 million prize-money via a 1-0 victory, with Oupa Manyisa's 40-yard strike separating the sides.
However, Chiefs come into the game having claimed the bragging rights in their last encounter, a 1-0 win in the Carling Black Label Cup.
Pirates' Daine Klate threw caution to the wind at a media briefing ahead of Mzansi biggest football showdown. "I'd love to see Pirates repeat the same performance like the one against Zamalek but there's a lot at stake here," he said.
Pirates' Daine Klate
Meanwhile, Amakhosi's Reneilwe Letsholonyane said the game could be settled in next month's second leg which will determine who makes it to the final.
"To be honest, I think it will more like a boxing match in the first round where boxers test each other out," the former Jomo Cosmos player said.
"It won't be boring, but I don't think it will be an open game with lots of goals because there is a lot at stake with the R8 million prize and bragging rights."
With the exception of Collins Mbesuma, De Sa will have full team to pick from. Pirates defender Siyabonga Sangweni has made a timely return for tommorow's grudge match after struggling with a knee injury.
Chiefs have no notable injuries with Siyabonga Nkosi back from the treatment table and his experience might be vital in the cup tie.
· Johannesburg Metro police said Nasrec Road, the Soweto Highway, and Rand Show Road will be closed on Saturday from 08:00 to 17:00, Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar confirmed.
Amakhosi supporters
Bucs fans
· People coming from Soweto are encouraged to make use of the "Top 6" taxi association service from Soweto to the stadium. The Gautrain bus shuttle service will operate from Park Station to the stadium, and the Metrorail train service would run from Pretoria and Vereeniging to the stadium.
· Kick off is 3pm
Katlego Modiba/Own Correspondents