Crunch, because these matches always are; but a crunch time for Tinkler personally as he looks for a Soweto Derby victory that would not only go a long way towards rescuing the Buccaneers’ League season, but secure his job for the foreseeable future.
Winning against Kaizer Chiefs might be viewed by Tinkler’s detractors as delaying his ultimate sacking or resignation – depending on whatever term is appropriate at the time – but it will count much in changing the mood around Pirates as the club attempts to hold steady ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup Final later in November.
Victory will also be Tinkler’s first against Chiefs if we discount the pre-season Carling Black Label-sponsored match won on penalties.
Saturday’s League match is also a prelude to a Telkom Knockout semi-final against Chiefs – Tinkler can be forgiven for feeling bemused at the anger directed towards him as his club stands on the brink of not one, but two cup finals before Christmas.
But League matches, as his team struggles against fatigue and he wrestles with squad rotation and selection quandaries, have been Tinkler’s downfall this season.
A record of one win and four defeats from seven Absa Premiership matches must be the source of headaches during the day and the stuff of nightmares when the world is sleeping.
And this is what makes this particular Derby even more significant than others. A draw would not substantially still the grumbling among fans that are becoming genuinely worried about their side’s position as the League season unfolds. Victory would carry great weight.
Tinkler surely knows how much a difference a win will make, a difference greater than the three-point margin it signifies. It will instantly raise his stakes, and plunge his opposite number, Steve Komphela into the abyss of uncertainty that befalls a coach on the wrong end of a result in this fixture.
Khomphela has battles of his own as he struggles to step out from the shadow of departed title-winning coach, Stuart Baxter. Victory for Tinkler’s side will deepen the shadow over Komphela; though his prospects at Naturena remain altogether sunnier.
Baxter it was who inflicted a first Derby defeat on Tinkler, in his first game in charge after stepping up in place of Vladimir Vermezovic late last year, Chiefs winning 2-0.
Then in March this year Tinkler improved on his first result as the game finished goalless, but Chiefs took more satisfaction from a result that kept them on course for the championship.
So can this be third time lucky for the former Bafana Bafana midfield enforcer?
“What I can only hope for as a coach is that we put on a good spectacle of football and obviously that we come out with the right result,” said Tinkler on Thursday.
“The Derby is a completely different game with the mind-set of players completely different. The focus is there and every player is looking forward to playing in the Derby. Every player holds up his hand, wanting to be selected; that makes our job as coaches a lot easier because players are highly motivated.
“They enjoy the idea of playing before 90 000 spectators which is something that you don’t see every week. A lot of these players have lived their lives as young boys wanting to get this opportunity and experience this occasion that they will experience on Saturday. All we can do is guide them and help them,” Tinkler continued.
Tinkler will be desperate for his players to come good on the day – fail, and they will be judged harshly. For him, judgment may be final.