Phunya Sele Sele had a 2016/17 campaign to forget, finishing just two points above relegated Highlands park in 12th, having scored just 16 goals in 30 games the entire campaign – the worst-ever in the PSL era.
This season, however, has brought drastic change, with new coach Veselin Jelusic building a solid team and guiding them to a final of a cup competition at the first time of asking, where they fell narrowly short in the Telkom Knockout showdown, losing 1-0 to Bidvest Wits.
In the league, they’ve claimed the prized scalps of defending champions Wits, high-flying Cape Town City and a memorable 3-0 derby win over Free State Stars.
However, their form has not been consistent, following up their derby victory with a 4-1 thumping at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns last time out – their third loss in their last six league games.
Five wins and four draws over their 13 games so far this season sees Siwelele lying eighth in the standings, yet three points tonight could see them climb to joint-third on 22 points alongside title challengers Kaizer Chiefs, Baroka and Free State Stars, with an extra game in hand.
Opponents SuperSport, meanwhile, have endured a tough time since their CAF Confederation Cup final loss last month, winning just one of their five games since, leaving them 11th on the log, albeit with five games in hand. They’ll be kicking themselves though, as successive losses against less-fancied Free State Stars and Baroka in their last two games has seen them drop off the pace in their title tilt.
The goals have seemingly dried up for Matsatsantsa, who have scored just 11 in 10 games, with top marksman Jeremy Brockie last scoring in the league in mid-September.
A win for the Pretoria club would only take them as high as ninth, with the festive season break a welcome retreat for the fatigued squad who are still playing catch-up.
Last season’s league encounters between the two clubs both ended in goalless stalemates, yet Celtic’s penalty shootout Telkom Knockout win in October, coupled with home ground advantage and SuperSport’s patchy form, will no doubt give them the psychological edge tonight.
Kick-off at Dr Molemela Stadium is set for 19h30.