The latest edition of the Soweto derby is facing the possibility of being played minus the leading scorer of all players currently in the books of both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
Saturday’s match is at Orlando Stadium (15h30) and will again be played before empty seats just like the previous five games between these two clubs.
Pirates’ top scorer in this fixture Thembinkosi Lorch remains a doubt following a muscle strain that forced him to pull out from the midweek tie against Cape Town City.
Lorch has five goals in the derby – the most by any player contracted to both clubs.
"Lorch had an injury yesterday (Tuesday). He was in the team, in the last preparation he had a muscle strain, which is why we couldn’t take him along.
"We hope from our medical team to get feedback whether he’ll be ready (for Saturday) or not ready but currently we’re not sure," commented Mandla Ncikazi, the Pirates co-coach.
While Lorch remains a doubt, Pirates will have all other players who have scored in this fixture available.
Vincent Pule (three goals), Gabadinho Mhango (two goals), Fortune Makaringe (two goals), Linda Mntambo (two goals) will all be ready along with Siphesihle Ndlovu, Zakhele Lepasa and Innocent Maela and Happy Jele who all have a goal each.
On the other end, Chiefs have Daniel Cardoso as their top scorer in their squad in the Soweto derby.
Cardoso has scored four goals with three of them penalties.
Colombian forward Leonardo Castro also has four goals while Keagan Dolly and Bernard Parker have two each.
The only other players to ever scored in this fixture still at Chiefs are Samir Nurkovic, Lebogang Manyama, Khama Billiat and Mulomowandau Mathoho.
