Orlando Pirates are sweating over the fitness of Nigerian defender Olisa Ndah ahead of the Nedbank Cup match against AmaZulu FC in Durban on Saturday.
Pirates suffered a major blow when defender Tapelo Xoki received his fourth book during the DStv Premiership match against Golden Arrows in Soweto last Saturday, thus ruling him out of the cup clash against his former side this weekend.
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The Soweto giants will still be without defender Nkosinathi Sibisi after he received a red card during a league match against Moroka Swallows in Soweto about a fortnight ago.
This means the Houghton-based side cold be without all of Ndah, Xoki and Sibisi for the key match, and considering the coach has been alternating between the three at centre-back, this could be a huge blow that Pablo Franco Martin's men would look to capitalise on.
Pirates should be high in confidence as they are heading to KwaZulu-Natal on the back of their famous 7-1 drubbing of Golden Arrows in a DStv Premiership encounter played at the Orlando Stadium last Saturday.
The Mighty Buccaneers are set to bank their hopes for more goals again on red-hot striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, who scoring a hat-trick during the match against Steve Komphela's men.
The bulky centre-forward has been in scintillating form since he arrived back at Pirates in January after a short spell on loan at the Dube Birds, and is now among the favourites for the Golden Boot accolade at the end of the season.
But before that, there is the small matter of the Nedbank Cup, a title that Pirates are looking to defend having beaten Sekhukhune United in the final last season.
Bucs coach Jose Riveiro could call on Thabiso Sesane and Sandile Mthethwa to fill the void left by Sibisi and Xoki in the club's defence, with the latter having profited from a Kabelo Dlamini cross to head home during the goal fest against Arrows.
The two sides played to a goalless draw in their last meeting in October last year, which was at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Meanwhile, Usuthu are set to be without midfielder Ethan Brooks on Saturday.
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The pint-sized midfielder has joined the list of players suspended for Nedbank Cup action this weekend, which includes Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau and Thabo Moloisane of Stellenbosch FC.
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