Orlando Pirates will be looking to add a second title to their season when they play Sekhukhune for the Nedbank Cup on Saturday.
Pirates will aim to end a good season as very good when they go into the cup final as favourites.
The Bucs finished second on the table after beating AmaZulu 4-0 at the weekend. It was enough for them to qualify for CAF Champions League next season.
And don’t forget, they beat the same side in the MTN8 which marks a solid campaign under the guidance of head coach Jose Riveiro, a coach of the season nominee.
Pirates will have to do without the services of Makhehlene Makhaula, who accumulated the his fourth yellow card against Usuthu. Ironically, he joined from the KZN side in January and made 10 appearances.
Miguel Timm, Ben Motshwari, Goodman Mosele, Fortune Makaringe, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Thabang Monare are all fighting for a starting berth in the midfield.
Sibusiso Vilakazi looms large for Sekhukhune, a side in the final after just two seasons in the PSL.
A decorated winner at Wits and Sundowns, “Vila” is going again.
“Not only the coach but the team on its own trying to put a stamp and trying to put a certain mark of history within their books,” Vilakazi told Sowetan.
“I think one would say the team needs to have that kind of a history of dominance in terms of putting trophies. You want to be a team where players come in on board because you also win things, I think that’s a culture we are trying to build and with this one also, we just take it as a way it is coming.
“The most important thing is to create a team that will be able to inspire the upcoming ones to say, Babina Noko is also a team that I can go to and be able to put trophies in front and be successful also.”
Bucs captain Innocent Maele has warned his team not to take their foes lightly.
“As we’ve been preparing this week, we are preparing for any scenario. We are preparing for a team that will come at us since it’s a cup final. But we are also prepared for a team that will sit back and play counter-attacks. More than anything, we focus on ourselves… the mental fortitude will be crucial,” Maela said.
“The league and a cup final are two different things. We know what we have to do in this final. What we can promise is, the team will play with dedication. We will play to win.
“We are ready to compete and play for one another.”
The Cup final at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 6pm.