Sundowns’ Absa Premiership clash with SuperSport United on Saturday has all the makings of a classic, with much at stake.

The team that fails to win at the Lucas Moripe Stadium will see its title aspirations go up in smoke, and there is also the matter of this game being a dress rehearsal to the Nedbank Cup final a few weeks later.

And then there is the matter of the history and the competitive rivalry of these two Pretoria rivals.

Mamelodi Sundowns are the Tshwane club with the history; the attractive brand of football, ‘piano and shoeshine football’.

Sundowns were seen as the flag bearers for playing the game in true South African style, with players such as Ernest Chiwali (Mtawali), Chancey Gondwe, Zane Moosa Roger Fetumba, Daniel Madau, Joel Fire Masilela and Bennett Masinga at the forefront of an attractive carpet football mentality.

From the late 1980’s onwards, Sundowns’ style translated into trophies as they won the NSL title in 1988, 1990 and 1993, and lifted the PSL trophy in 1997/ 98, 1998/ 99, 1999/ 2000, 2005/ 06 and 2006/ 07.

The last time the Brazilians won the league title was in 2006/ 2007, when they topped the table by 10 points over Silver Stars under the guidance of Neil Tovey and Michel Gamondi.

But since then, Sundowns have had to watch enviously across the city as SuperSport went on to win three successive titles under Gavin Hunt, echoing the achievements of their neighbours nearly a decade back.

While Matsatsantsa finished first in 2007/ 2008 and 2008/ 2009, Downs could only muster fourth and ninth placed finishes.

In the 2009/ 2010 season, Sundowns were again pipped to the post by their city rivals, SuperSport finishing champions with 59 points and Downs ending on 58.

United’s recent history stretches back just 18 years, to 1994, when M-Net bought the status of Pretoria City, whose history goes back considerably longer.

Thomas Madigage, Abram Raselemane, Peter Khoabane, Molefi Ntsoelengoe and Patrick Mayo are some of the players that starred for the club in its earlier years.

Of the SuperSport players that have shone for the club in recent years, a large contingent have in fact been tempted across the city to go and play for Sundowns, adding more spice to Saturday’s fixture.

These include Katlego Mphela, Elias Pelembe, Teko Modise (via Pirates), Calvin Marlin, Anthony Laffor. Hlompho Kekana (via Celtic) and Siboniso Gaxa.

Matsatsantsa are have several ex-Downs players on their books, including Franklin Cale, Mabudi Khenyeza and Sibusiso Zuma.

Now Patrice Motsepe’s club again find SuperSport standing in their way as they Brazilians look to try and catch Orlando Pirates at the top of the log.

Sundowns currently trail Bucs by three points and have a vastly superior goal difference, meaning that if Pirates lose one of their last two remaining games, and Downs win both of theirs, they could be champions, although only if Moroka Swallows fail to take maximum points from their last two matches