The bow and arrow in Jose Riveiro’s hands as Orlando Pirates return to domestic duty will have to aim with precision to keep the league hopes alive.
Pirates have switched back to duties in the Betway Premiership after letting slip of the chance to reach the CAF Champions League final.
READ: PSL final stretch fixture issues still unsettled
They will come back with a mountain to climb in seeking to give Mamelodi Sundowns further discomforts in this home stretch, which has the champions on 55 points from 22 games and Bucs on 46 from 20 played.
The men in Black will be the hosts at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday (19:30) against Sekhukhune United and will do so needing all three points to keep their title challenge alive.
While one eye could be on the derby on Saturday, the value of the points is the same and the three available on Wednesday is the same as those to be played for against Kaizer Chiefs.
With Sundowns in action on the same day against Richards Bay FC at Loftus, Pirates will have to either match or do better in their match.
Bargaining on any slip-up from the champions will have to be coupled with the Soweto giants making sure they win their games first.
So, Pirates need to win all three points against Sekhukhune, otherwise The Brazilians will be counting the days to their eighth league title in a row.
Jose Riveiro will have decisions to make with his selection with Relebohile Mofokeng, Tito Maswanganyi, Thalente Mbatha, and Tapelo Xoki all walking on three yellow cards with the league derby up next.
Xoki is the captain while Mofokeng, Maswanganyi, and Mbatha are always counted on to make a difference.
READ: Ultimate disaster for Chiefs wingback
This then means the head coach will have considerations to make.
After Babina Noko on Wednesday and Chiefs on Saturday, Pirates then have Golden Arrows midweek in Durban before the Nedbank Cup final on May 10.
