Thebe Mabanga and Levy Masiteng
The 185th Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, which takes place on the eve of Freedom Day and, unusually for recent times, on a Sunday, has more at stake for the Buccaneers, who are looking for their first league title since 2012.
The showpiece was moved to a Sunday to accommodate a music event at nearby Nasrec on Saturday, and it works well on the eve of Freedom Day on Monday.
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Pirates lead the Betway Premiership with 58 points from 25 games, followed by Mamelodi Sundowns with 57 points and a game in hand. Sundowns dropped crucial points this week when they drew 1-1 with Stellenbosch, just like how Pirates stumbled to a 2-2 draw with Richards Bay earlier this month.
This suggests there will be many twists in the remaining five games before the league is decided.
Chiefs lie third with 46 points from 24 games. This is already an improved points haul and league position from last season, when they finished ninth.
They will be looking to consolidate third position to play in the CAF Confederations Cup and rescue an indifferent season. They will also look to avenge, or rather prevent, the embarrassment of the 3-0 drubbing at the end of February.
Given that Chiefs are also to play Mamelodi Sundowns, the Phefeni Glamour Boys may have a say in the destiny of the title.
Pirates will be looking to the goalkeeper Sipho Chaine to keep Chiefs at bay, but also their star players Relebohile Mofokeng and Aswin Apollis to make magic happen up front. Mofokeng in particular has been in electric form, with nine goals in the last 11 matches, including a hat trick against TS Galaxy in March.
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He has shown the kind of form that fans hope he can translate to the World Cup later this year. The Derby allows him an opportunity to show he possesses big stage temperament, as he could not rescue Pirates against Casric Stars in the Nedbank Cup for example.
He has an opportunity and potential to make his mark on this fixture like Benedict Vilakazi did for Pirates who was at one point, the highest scorer of his generation in the derby.
Chiefs have over the years had great goalkeepers to influence this fixture, mots recently Brian Baloyi and Itumeleng Khune. They no longer possess shot stoppers of similar stature, but Brendan Pertersen can stake his claim as a reliable last line of defence.
Lebohang Maboe, a standout performer in recent outings, will look to dictate terms in midfield, while Flavio da Silva will look to get his name onto the scoresheet and history books.
The City of Johannesburg has laid on extra Rea Vaya Buses to ease congestion and simplify travel for fans and revellers.
South Africa is all set for the Sunday Freedom Day Derby.
