A game that could define Bucs’ season

The battle for the top-eight continues tomorrow when Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates lock horns at Orlando Stadium.

The Buccaneers face finishing outside the top half for the first time in the PSL era, with the club in 10th place on 32 points, three points behind the Urban Warriors, who occupy the last top eight spot with only two games left.

Pirates last won a league match late last month when they beat Chippa United 2-1 at Orlando Stadium – last week’s goalless draw away to Bloemfontein Celtic followed after losses to title-chasing Bidvest Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Pirates coach Kjell Jonevret will be hoping his team finally find a way to hit the back of the net, having not done so in the last three league games. The team’s top scorer Tendai Ndoro seems to have run out of steam – only one of his 12 league goals have come this year. As a result, Jonevret has opted to start Thamsanqa Gabuza ahead of Ndoro, but the former Golden Arrows striker hasn’t had much luck in front of goal, with only three goals to his name in this campaign.

Ajax, meanwhile, have managed to pick up form when it matters most. The Cape side are on a three-game winning streak, with their 2-0 victory against Celtic over the weekend putting them in eighth.

The Urban Warriors missed out on a top eight finish last season, denying them the opportunity to defend their 2015 MTN8 title. Defender Musa Lebusa, who has formed a formidable partnership in the back four of the Urban Warriors alongside Rivaldo Coetzee, Roscoe Petersen and Travis Graham (below) in the last couple of games, says they will play their last two games like a cup final, but admits it won’t be easy.