Jose Riveiro will on Tuesday evening continue with the business of making sure that he ticks the other page of the important boxes since taking over at Orlando Pirates.
Pirates host Moroka Swallows in the original Soweto Derby with the visitors making the short trip to Orlando Stadium.
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Steve Komphela's Birds will flock to the famous venue having their own intentions after having had a solid start to the season that has left them in sixth place with games in hand.
On the opposite dugout, Riveiro will feel the weight of lifting Pirates out of the tortoise pace moves that have already left them 11 points behind Mamelodi Sundowns with the champions having played two games less.
The Bucs were this season expected to provide a better challenge and close the gap on Sundowns after finishing second last season, but they have been slow off the blocks.
However, as Pirates return to league action, Riveiro has the opportunity of wiping off what has triggered doubts about him.
The Bucs' last three fixtures have been in the league and will also play for points in their next seven presenting Riveiro with an uninterrupted chase for 30 points.
This will be the longest run of nonstop league matches for the Spaniard since he took over at Pirates.
Carrying the value of a third of the total points at stake for the season, this period will define what becomes of Pirates' league campaign.
So far, seven points out of nine so far in the uninterrupted run – which has included the sweet victory over Kaizer Chiefs – has been good but Riveiro needs to pocket just about all, to play for in the next seven league games.
After Swallows, Pirates have games against TS Galaxy, Golden Arrows, SuperSport United, and Stellenbosch to play before the year ends after which they have Chippa United and Mamelodi Sundowns when the league resumes after the AFCON break.
Pirates will only have a break in league fixtures on the weekend of February 23-25 when the Nedbank Cup last 32 fixtures start.
By then Pirates could be up to 37 points after 18 games but this will happen if they collect maximum points in the next seven games.
The longest run of league games that Riveiro has had without a break since arriving at Pirates was six, which has happened twice.
First time out it was when the Spaniard had just taken over at the beginning of the 2022/23 season when he won three, drew two and lost one before the start of the MTN8 which Pirates went on to win.
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The second time that Riveiro had six league games in a row was after the 2022 World Cup when he recorded three wins and just as many defeats.
After those six league games, the Nedbank Cup – which Pirates went to lift – started with the game against All Stars.
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