Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has added his voice to the debate around Orlando Pirates' possibility of unseating Mamelodi Sundowns from the throne of league champions.
On Thursday, Broos announced his final 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin, to be played later this month.
Of the 23, nine will come from Sundowns, with five from Pirates.
READ | Broos on Downs star: I wanted to teach him a lesson
Those 14 players from the two giants are likely to all be in action as the Buccaneers host the Chloorkop-based outfit at FNB Stadium in a Betway Premiership encounter on Sunday.
Speaking on SABC Sport after making the squad announcement, the Belgian offered his take on the league title race.
"I hope nothing happens in that game, because you can't ask the players to take their attention off their teams and focus on the national team," Broos said.
"They will play to win. It's important for Sundowns and it's important for Pirates.
"So, I think if Pirates lose that game, it's definitely finished, Sundowns will be champions.
"So, it's a very important game and it will be very intense from both sides.
"But if it's fair, then I don't have a problem. Let's hope and pray that there are no injuries."
The 72-year-old also called for an improvement in the competitiveness of the league. Sundowns, with their embarrassment of riches in the line-up, on the bench, and in the stands, have ruled the domestic scene with an iron fist, boasting seven consecutive league titles.
READ | BREAKING: Percy Tau returns as Broos names final squad
"I think Sundowns will be angry now [about what I'm going to say], but it's too easy for them to be champions. We are eight games before the end and they're [already] champions, unless they start losing games now.
"Pirates? Yes, they still have four games [in hand], but they have to win them and it will not be easy to win those four games.
"So, I hope again that next year there will be more fight for the championship with three, four teams finishing very close to each other. The one loses, the one climbs over. So, the level will be higher automatically. Let's hope that happens next year," added the former Cameroon coach.