The top of the table clash between second placed Orlando Pirates and third placed Platinum Stars at the Orlando Stadium tonight easily makes this the fixture of the week.

Both teams are on 37 points, with Pirates having a game in hand. The winner in this match can climb to the top if Kaizer Chiefs (39) lose at Black Leopards, also tonight.

It will be up to the two opposing coaches’ tactical acumen – and the influence of players such as winger Thuso Phala and midfielder Robert Ng’ambi for Stars; Oupa Manyisa and striker Takesure Chinyama for Pirates.

The visitors from Rustenburg are in sublime form, which is shown by the highest number of games any team has won this season in the Absa Premiership – 12. The emphatic 3-0 lashing of Ajax Cape Town in their last match league showed how well-oiled Cavin Johnson’s machine had been this season.

Hard running Pirates midfielder Oupa Manyisa admits Stars are the surprise package and that they are a team to beat.

“We are worried about their form,” Manyisa said.

“They have assembled one of the finest squads this season and their position says it all but we are going to fight to ensure that we win at home.”

Bucs are unbeaten at home in 11 matches but they will require some enthusiasm from their fans to spur them on as Dikwena’s great mental capacity to face everything thrown at them has been evident.

“Pirates are on song and we cannot argue that we go to the game as underdogs. They have enough players who can run the marathon title race longer and we are aware of the threat they will pose tonight,” Stars’ key man Phala said.

Minus suspended talisman Henrico Botes, who has scored seven times this season, Stars’ mentor Johnson will have to come out with another grand plan to topple Bucs at their famous fortress in Soweto.

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