Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will resume hostilities on Saturday at FNB Stadium, in a South African Premiership Soweto Derby that will be Fernando da Cruz's first in charge of the Glamour Boys.
Da Cruz replaced Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze as head coach ahead of the current season. He is off to an unbeaten start in the league, but Chiefs have drawn five out of their eight Premiership matches.
That leaves them eight points behind Pirates, who have only drawn one of theirs and are one point behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with a game in hand.
The last time these two teams squared off was a feisty encounter six months ago, which saw coaches from each team accuse the other of gamesmanship. Ben Youssef took issue with behaviour from Pirates staff during a pre-match fracas.
Abdeslam Ouaddou criticised the physical nature of Chiefs' gameplan -- a point which he even found common ground on with Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso.
Ahead of the clash with Da Cruz's side, it is now Ouaddou's own players who have a point to prove to him. The former Morocco centre-back criticised their decision-making, particularly in the final third, in Tuesday's 3-0 Carling Knockout last 16 win over Milford FC.
"I was not happy about how we played. We didn't have control... A lot of players were selfish. Instead of giving the ball to their teammates to score when they were not in bad positions, they shot," Ouaddou told SuperSport after the game.
"The positives are three goals and a clean sheet, but we want to dream bigger. To dream bigger is to win the [Premiership] and the Champions League. I think if we play like this, we are going to win nothing... I think there are a lot of players who need to wake up."
Kaizer Chiefs also picked up a 3-0 midweek Carling Knockout win, beating TS Galaxy courtesy of a Wandile Duba hat-trick.
That game took place at FNB Stadium, which is usually a home ground for Chiefs, but is often used even for derbies which Pirates host, such as the fixture this Saturday, due to the 94,736-seat capacity of the stadium, which hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.
Key details
Date: Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3:30 p.m. CAT (1:30 p.m. GMT)
Venue: FNB Stadium
How to watch: The match will air on SuperSport PSL (DSTV channel 202). ESPN will provide coverage and live match updates on our digital platforms, including our website.
Team news
Gamphani Lungu was hauled off in the 38th minute of Orlando Pirates' win over Milford on Tuesday. This may have been a precautionary measure due to his previous injury, but may also have been a tactical switch.
Mohau Nkota, Evidence Makgopa and Thalente Mbatha have seen increased minutes in recent weeks, as the three Bafana internationals work their way back to full fitness from injuries. However, Kamogelo Sebelebele has yet to return from a knock.
Chiefs welcomed back goalkeeper Brandon Petersen and centre-back Rushwin Dortley to their starting lineup from injury absences in the win over TS Galaxy - both major boosts for da Cruz. Bradley Cross, who only recently returned from an injury, sat out the game.
There had, however, been plenty of change following the CAF Confederation Cup elimination at the hands of Red Arrows. How many changes were tactical and how many were made to preserve legs or adjust to injuries and fatigue is not entirely clear.
Expected lineups
Orlando Pirates
GK Sipho Chaine
LB Deon Hotto | CB Lebone Seema | CB Nkosinathi Sibisi | RB Bulelani Sigomoshe
CM Thapelo Mokobodi | CM Thalente Mbatha | CM Mpho Padime
LW Oswin Appollis | ST Boitumelo Radiopane | RW Tshepang Moremi
Kaizer Chiefs
GK Brandon Petersen
LB Bradley Cross | CB Rushwin Dortley | CB Thabo Moloisane | RB Reeve Frosler
CM Sibongiseni 'Ox' Mthethwa | CM Lebohang Maboe
LW Pule Mmodi | AM Mduduzi Shabalala | RW Mfundo Vilakazi
ST Wandile Duba
Stats
Since losing the MTN8 final to Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates have won all four games in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and conceding none.
The last time Kaizer Chiefs won a league derby against Orlando Pirates was in Feb. 2023. Pirates did the double over Amakhosi in 2023-24 and 2024-25 and picked up four points against them in two matches last season. However, Chiefs did manage to beat Pirates in the 2025 Nedbank Cup final.