The teams will collide at 15h30 at FNB Stadium on Saturday both looking to reduce Mamelodi Sundowns' lead at the summit.
Pirates, who beat Chippa United 4-2 in Port Elizabeth over the weekend, are four points behind Sundowns with eight games left.
Chiefs are a further point off the pace following a goalless home draw with Bloemfontein Celtic.
"This is one match I think in my opinion is going to be a defining one," Komphela said.
"One, from a tactical point of view, the set-up from both teams, they are almost similar. They both play 3-4-3 and you can see how Orlando Pirates is coming.
"If you go back and look at teams that are playing three defenders; you look at Maritzburg United, Pirates, Chiefs. When Roger de Sa played SuperSport United he played three at the back.
"There is something to do with this three-man defence and Pirates are playing so well, we are playing it so well."
He added: "I foresee sparks. One from an attacking point of view, very offensive both teams.
"The set-up in terms of pressing; it is going to be a pressing game. We might even move to a state where there is going to be a lot of pressing where whoever has the ball is pressed and as soon as they lose the ball they press.
"It is phenomenon where maybe you will see in very few teams in Europe, where if you look at Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal where nobody gives space. The ball always rattles left and right. I hope Chiefs and Pirates can carry that and put it in the match.
"After that, there should be a direction where the game is going in South Africa which is a primary responsibility for Chiefs and Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns - that's where it will define our national team."