Orlando Pirates are set to face Chippa United in a crucial Betway Premiership fixture at Orlando Stadium this Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 19:30. Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has made four changes to the starting lineup following their 1-0 victory over Richards Bay in the Carling Knockout semifinals. Nkosikhona Ndaba, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Deano Van Rooyen, and Oswin Appollis have been replaced by Deon Hotto, Lebone Seema, Thabiso Lebitso, and Relebohile Mofokeng. Olisah Ndah and Makhehlene Makhaula are on the bench.

The international break, which lasted two weeks, arrived at a potentially inopportune moment for the Buccaneers, who were just hitting their stride as one of South Africa's most exciting teams. Despite the pause, Orlando Pirates remain in a strong position in the league, sitting just three points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with two matches in hand. Ouaddou’s squad has been in formidable form, boasting an unbeaten run of eight games, including seven consecutive victories. In their 10 league appearances, they have netted 14 goals while conceding only five. Their recent travels yielded four points from a stalemate against Mamelodi Sundowns and a convincing win against Golden Arrows. At home, the Buccaneers have enjoyed an even longer winning streak, claiming maximum points in each of their last four games without conceding a single goal, while finding the net five times. Their only home blemish this season was a defeat to Sekhukhune United in their opener.

Chippa United, on the other hand, are grappling with significant challenges early in their campaign, a struggle starkly reflected in the log table. The Chilli Boys are currently rooted to the bottom of the standings with only seven points from 12 fixtures. Their sole victory this season was a 2-1 win against newcomers Orbit College, which accounts for nearly half of their total points. Since that win, they have endured a rough patch, losing three times and settling for three draws. Their away form has been particularly poor, collecting just one point from five matches on the road, scoring three goals and conceding six. A three-week break from competitive action may have offered the Eastern Cape side a chance to regroup, as they are desperate to turn their fortunes around against a tough opponent.

Historically, Orlando Pirates have dominated this fixture. They have an opportunity to clinch a league double against Chippa, having secured a 3-0 victory in Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium earlier in the season. A win on Tuesday would extend their winning streak against Chippa to five games. In their 25 league encounters since first crossing paths 13 years ago, the Buccaneers have emerged victorious in 18 matches, suffering only four defeats, with three games ending in draws. Chippa’s last victory against the Pirates was a 1-0 win at Orlando Stadium during the early part of the 2022/23 season. Since then, the Soweto giants have reasserted their dominance, winning five of the subsequent six games and dropping points only once. Looking ahead, Orlando Pirates could soon be bolstered by the return of midfielder Sihle Nduli, who missed the Carling Knockout clash against Richards Bay, while Olisa Ndah and Makhehleni Makhaula are inching closer to their first appearances of the season.

The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL, and tickets are available for purchase online via OpenTickets and at selected outlets nationwide.