The meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns may be three matchdays away, but it will be gnawing on the mind of Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro with the availability of one of his playmakers at stake.
On Thursday, the PSL released the latest cards and suspensions list ahead of this weekend's Nedbank Cup fixtures.
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Confirmed to be out suspended is Nkosinathi Sibisi, who received his fourth caution in Pirates' hard-fought 1-0 win over Chippa United midweek, therefore missing the cup quarterfinal encounter against SuperSport United on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Gavin Hunt will also be unable to bark instructions from the bench in that game, serving the last of his two-match ban after he was red-carded as his side went down 1-0 to Magesi FC last weekend.
The veteran gaffer was in the stands in his side's goalless draw against AmaZulu FC at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Wednesday.
Currently, Bucs have four players sitting on three yellow cards, in Relebohile Mofokeng, Thalente Mbatha, Patrick Maswanganyi, and Thabiso Sesane.
The latter two remain on the injury list.
With the Sundowns blockbuster lurking around the corner, the Mofokeng and Mbatha yellow cards situation remains tricky.
If the pair avoid getting booked at Peter Mokaba Stadium this weekend, then it will mean having to do the same Stellenbosch FC in a crucial league fixture next Tuesday to ensure they are available for the grudge meeting against Miguel Cardoso's men.
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On the flip side, should either of them get a yellow against Matsatsantsa, then a one-match suspension kicks in for the the trip to the Mother City, to be back in time for the showdown against Miguel Cardoso's men.
Mofokeng, in particular, remains an ace up the sleeve for Jose Riveiro in big games, though many fans appear to think the youngster needs a rest as he has seemed to run out of steam in recent matches.
The caution against Chippa was his first received this year, having also been booked in consecutive matches against TS Galaxy (29 October 2024) and Richards Bay FC (5 November).
Mbatha has copped criticism for below-par displays of late and with Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo coming back into the reckoning, a caution in the next game may see him at a disadvantage for a starting berth against the Tshwane giants.