Soweto derby preview feature: Are Kaizer Chiefs in contention for Betway Premiership title?

In 183 previous meetings, Amakhosi have claimed victory 75 times, while Pirates have won 49 meetings, with 54 matches ending in draws.

But it has been Pirates who have been the more dominant force in recent campaigns, with three second-place finishes behind perennial winners Mamelodi Sundowns as Amakhosi floundered in mid-table.

Chiefs though most recently claimed a famous 2-1 victory over the Buccaneers in the 2024/25 Nedbank Cup final to finally claim bragging rights, and more importantly end 10 years without a trophy - to add some extra spice to this clash!

And while Pirates are currently in second place on the standings with 38 points from 17 games - level with leaders Sundowns, Amakhosi are only eight points adrift, in fourth place from 16 games - meaning this tie could have a direct impact on both team's ambitions this season.

Abdeslaam Ouaddou's side had until recently been on course for a historic quadruple, after early season wins in the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cups but were eliminated from the Nedbank Cup by Motsepe Foundation Championship side Casric Stars.

They also let slip a nine-point advantage over the Brazilians as Chiefs steadily made their way up the standings.

Chiefs went out of the Nedbank Cup to Stellenbosch, and both teams are also out of their respective CAF competitions, meaning that sole focus is on their league campaign, and potentially displacing Sundowns to be crowned Betway Premiership champions.

Possibilities are there for both teams to claim top honours, alongside a determined Sekhuhkune United side in third place with 32 points, from 18 games.

But they also both also come into this tie on the back of league defeats as Chiefs lost 2-1 to Stellenbosch as Pirates went down to Mamelodi Sundowns, before their cup exit,

Prior to their Stellies defeat, co-head coach Cedric Kaze talked up his side's title chances but has since backtracked somewhat, saying on KickOff: "From the first of the season, we are repeating the same thing, we are taking each game as a cup game.

"We didn’t say we are competing for the PSL, or we don’t compete for the PSL. We are fighting for every game. If we get an opportunity to fight and win the PSL, we will do it."

"The most important thing is the performance of the team, and we will continue to fight to win the games."

"I think every derby has a different reality and depending on the result of the team, the derby has another reality, and I hope we will be ready to win this next game," he added.

Ouaddou has, meanwhile, called on his charges to show mental resilience as they look to win their first top-flight title since 2012.

He explained that his team needs to "wash the brain" in order to bounce back from successive defeats to Sundowns and Casric Stars.

“I think we will have to find other tools to bounce back," he said on IOL. "It is very important to bring back the confidence for the players to continue to perform and play on.”

"When you have lost, it is very important mentally to wash the brain and give confidence and trust to the players. It is what we did after Sundowns. There is this game as well that will shock the players a bit, but I will tell them that we still have 13 finals coming.

"Nothing is lost regarding the title race. We are going to find some resources like that. It is a tough week after losing two games."

In team news though, Amakhosi are boosted by the return of several key players from injury, notably Fiacre Ntwari, Thabo Cele, and Bradley Cross.

Pirates though are sweating on the fitness of Evidence Makgopa and Boitumelo Radiopane. Tapelo Xoki and Thabiso Lebitso both are still sidelined but Sipho Mbule, Thalente Mbatha and Kabelo Dlamini are expected to be fit to face Chiefs on Saturday.