Orlando Pirates will host Sekhukhune United in the second leg of the MTN8 semifinal at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 15:00.
The Buccaneers head into this clash with a 1-0 advantage having won the first leg away to Sekhukhune United.
Now, the last time these two teams met at the same venue in the MTN8 was back in 2023 when Pirates hammered Babina Noko 5-0.
Zakhele Lepasa scored a hat-trick while the other two goals were scored by Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Monnapule Saleng.
It is worth mentioning that the abovementioned players are no longer with the Soweto giants.
In fact, there are only EIGHT survivors from that entire Pirates squad that went on to lift the MTN8 trophy under the tutelage of Jose Riveiro.
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MTN8: WHO ARE THE EIGHT PIRATES SURVIVORS FROM THE 2023 WIN OVER SEKHUKHUNE UNITED?Pirates have made wholesale changes to their playing squad since they last hosted Sekhukhune United in the MTN8.
The eight survivors are Sipho Chaine, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Tapelo Xoki, Deon Hotto, Kabelo Dlamini, Thalente Mbatha, Makhehlene Makhaula and Evidence Makgopa.
Out of that eight, only three were in the starting line-up eSgodini, and they are Chaine, Sibisi and Xoki.
More changes are expected yet again with Chaine, Sibisi and Hotto the only likely starters for this Saturday’s encounter.
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INJURIES HIT MAKGOPA AND MBATHA
As things stand, both Makgopa and Mbatha are out of this clash due to injury while Dlamini, Xoki and Makhaula have lost their places in the starting line-up.
Abdeslam Ouaddou appears to have more confidence in younger players whom the Pirates brought in during this transfer window.