Amakhosi determined to make themselves heard
Although the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates coaches may play it down, tensions are running high in both camps in the build-up to the Soweto derby scheduled for Soccer City at 3.15pm on Saturday.
Pride is at stake and perhaps even more importantly the three points that may go a long way to deciding the destiny of the PSL championship.
Chiefs coach Ted Dumitru keeps insisting that the championship won't be won this weekend as there are crucial games to be played before the curtain drops on this season's campaign.
Amakhosi go into this clash having played one game fewer than logleaders Pirates and this edge could be vital.
But it may also be to their detriment as they have tough games to play after this weekend to defend the championship.
After the Pirates game, Chiefs host Moroka Swallows in another Soweto derby, then travel to relegation threatened Bush Bucks, SuperSport United and Bloemfontein Celtic to round off their season.
Pirates will be left with three games after Saturday with away encounters to Ajax Cape Town and Wits University before they end the season at home to relegation-haunted Bush Bucks.
Based on this, Dumitru may be right that it is too early to talk about the championship, but it must be remembered too that the team that win on Saturday will enjoy a massive psychological advantage.
If hosts Chiefs win on Saturday they will have gone through their past five games without defeat - three victories and two draws - and have avenged a first round defeat.
Most importantly, their conviction that the championship trophy will stay at Naturena for at least another season will be further strengthened.
For Pirates, victory will boost their morale tremendously after they lost their last league game against Santos at home last weekend.
It will also see them stretch their lead at the top of the table to six points and get them closer to their dream of their second championship in three seasons.
In Chiefs' last minute 1-0 win over Wits on Tuesday, Dumitru rested key defender Patrick Mabedi and midfielder Tinashe Nengomashe, but they are expected to take their places in the starting line-up on Saturday.
All seems to be okay in the Pirates camp with no major injury fears or other potential disruptions reported on Thursday.
There are going to be tensions on the field and its going to take 11 determined men and 90 nerve-wracking minutes to pocket the crucial three points at stake here.