Orlando Pirates kept their Betway Premiership title hopes alive with a slender 1-0 victory over Polokwane City on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates named three changes from the win over MC Alger on Wednesday as Paseka Mako, Patrick Maswanganyi and Mohau Nkota came in for Deon Hotto, Thapelo Xoki and Kabelo Dlamini.
Bafana Bafana international Oswin Appollis almost stunned the Buccaneers with a clever attempt from a delivery by Manuel Kambala, but Sipho Chaine made a stop.
Makhehlene Makhaula went close for the visitors minutes later through a rasping shot left of the area though snapped his lines.
The efforts kept coming from both charges a little later as Chaine needed to make another stop to deny Appollis before Relebohile Mofokeng worked Brian Bwire at the other end.
Mako looked to open up the home team on the half-hour mark and delivered a telling cross to the box where Thalente Mbatha grabbed hold, but sent his effort wide of the mark.
Pirates continued on the attack and could've gone ahead with a header from Evidence Makgopa following Deano Van Rooyen's cross, but he missed target.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi also threatened the breakthrough after firing in a long-range effort from a layoff by Mbatha, but he went wide.
Captain for the day, Nkosinthi Sibisi proved decisive midway in the second half when he bundled the ball home home after Bwire misjudged the flight of the free-kick..
Rise and Shine looked to go back on level terms through the efforts of Kambala, Appollis amongst others, but the Buccaneers held their lines.
The Buccaneers maintained control as the match began to wind down and collected the maximum points to go 12-points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Confirmed line-ups:
Polokwane City: Bwire, Makhubela, Ndlovu, Nkaki, Baloyi, Kambala, Ramabu, Maphangule, Dlamini, Letshedi, Appollis
Subs: Mathebula, Manthonsi, Nikani, Batlhabane, Gwangqa, Goovadia, Raphadu, Ntamane, Ramushu
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Van Rooyen, Mbokazi, Mako, Sibisi, Makhaula, Mbatha, Maswanganyi, Nkota, Mofokeng, Makgopa
Subs: Buthelezi, Madiba, Xoki, Shandu, Kimvuidi, Mosele, Mabasa, Dlamini, Hotto