Pirates are currently eight points behind the high-flying Usuthu and one point behind third-placed Golden Arrows but do hold a game in hand over the KZN-based clubs.
With two wins in their last five league games, the Soweto giants have suffered a blip of inconsistency of late but their 3-0 win over Black Leopards is likely to give them a boost of confidence.
Meanwhile, their opposition, Stellies, are in real danger of falling into a surprise relegation dogfight as the season reaches its final run-in.
An eight-match winless streak for Steve Barker's men has left them in a precarious spot with just one point above the relegation play-off spot.
Fresh after the Bafana Bafana coaching debacle, his future has been clarified and all eyes will be on in-form Usuthu as they take on Baroka FC at the King Zwelithini Stadium.
With the slim title hopes still alive, there's more to play for than just their ambitious Champions League prospects but McCarthy has already issued a bold promise.
"Believe me‚ the next four games I can't see AmaZulu losing those four games‚," he said in the pre-match build-up.
"So CAF Champions League – we will be playing CAF Champions League‚ so that brings new challenges."
Both Amazulu vs Baroka and Orlando Pirates vs Stellenbosch will be kicking off at 15h00 on Tuesday afternoon.
It all ends at the end of this month on 30 May and you don't want to miss a single second of this riveting campaign!