After dropping the ball in their last game, Orlando Pirates are determined to bounce back against a rejuvenated Moroka Swallows in a DStv Premiership clash on Wednesday.
Pirates travel to their Soweto rivals for a clash at Dobsonville Stadium where kick-off is set for 19:30.
The two sides head to the clash at the back of contrasting fortunes from their last respective outings.
The Buccaneers were humbled by impressive Sekhukhune United with a 2-1 defeat while the Musa Nyatama-coached Swallows claimed a 1-0 win over Cape Town Spurs.
This was the Swallows’ first league victory of the year.
The Pirates’ loss to Babina Noko on Saturday was a major setback and a blow to their ambitions of achieving a second spot in the league and qualifying for the Caf Champions League.
The fourth-placed Sea Robbers are now five points behind the second-placed Stellenbosch FC.
Pirates have managed 33 points from 21 matches and a victory against the Dube Birds will see them leapfrog Sekhukhune to the third spot on the table.
Coach Jose Riveiro is most likely to call on his Bafana Bafana players as they were excused from the trip to Polokwane to face Sekhukhune.
Against Sekhukhune, Pirates missed Tapelo Xoki, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Thabang Monare and Patrick Maswanganyi while forward Evidence Makgopa has been battling an injury.
Some of the fringe players who were given an opportunity failed to put to good use and stake their claim in Riveiro’s team.
Pirates assistant coach Sergio Almenara said the aim is to try to right all the wrongs from their previous game when they take to the field at Dobsonville Stadium.
“We are focusing on ourselves, and we are thinking about improving on our last performance, especially at the beginning of the game,” said Almenara through Pirates’ media channels.
“We have an idea of what Swallows will try to do in the game but again, our main focus is on us.”
Swallows, who are fighting to move away from the relegation mix, will be thin up front without suspended striker Gabadinho Mango for the meeting.
Swallows are placed 13th on the log table with 24 from 21 matches and they are 12 points above bottom-placed Spurs.
☠️ "We're focusing on ourselves, that's it."
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) April 2, 2024
🎙 Assistant Coach | Sergio Almenara
🏆 #DStvPrem
⚽️ @Moroka_Swallows vs @orlandopirates
📆 Wednesday, 03 April 2024
🏟 Dobsonville Stadium
🕢 19h30
📺 SuperSport PSL
⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/7gFoy3olht
