The red-card of Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi seemingly put a damper in the Soweto derby spectacle, especially with circumstances around Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro.
Nabi did not yet feel the punishment of his sending-off in a 1-0 defeat to Golden Arrows, as he was red-carded just after the final whistle and did not have to watch the 'remainder' of the game from the stands.
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However, he could not face the media after the game due to his dismissal for lashing out at referee Olani Kwinda, after the hard-to-swallow loss to Abafana Bes'thende.
With the PSL yet to officially release the dates for the Nedbank Cup round of 32 matches, there were fears that, since Chiefs have only one league game against Sekhukhune United on 19 January before coming up against arch-rivals Pirates on 1 February, the 59-year-old was set to miss his first Soweto Derby, given the automatic two-match ban.
However, the Khosi Nation can heave a sigh of relief that the head coach will be on the bench against their old foes, as after Sekhukhune, they will have their Nedbank Cup Last 32 clash against Free Agents FC slotted in before the derby.
This means Nabi would have served his two-match sentence and therefore available.
KickOff understands that Chiefs will most likely be fixtured against Free Agents on the weekend following the clash against Babina Noko.
But there is a new worry for The Buccaneers, with Riveiro on a suspension tightrope, currently carrying three yellow cards in the Betway Premiership.
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Pirates will resume their league schedule on 23 January against Royal AM and are also expected to play their Nedbank Cup Last 32 fixture against Richards Bay before playing hosts in the much anticipated derby.
That means should the Spaniard be booked in a game preceding the derby, he will not be able to sit on the bench against Amakhosi, as a fourth booking is followed by an automatic one-match suspension.