MTN8 Final: Predicting Orlando Pirates' XI to face Stellenbosch FC - Abdeslam Ouaddou to drop Sihle Nduli and hand PSL Midfielder of the Season starting berth?

The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper has kept three clean sheets in Pirates' last two games and that is a huge positive going into a Cup final.    

Shandu has made four appearances this season, including two starts and would be fancying being in the line-up ahead of Thabiso Lebitso.

Hotto's experience has always been handy and he is one of the first names on Ouaddou's team sheet. 

Sibisi retrurns from a spell on the sidelines due to injury which saw him miss Pirates six games plus Bafana Bafana camp. 

The 19-year-old is brimming from a successful week which saw him getting rave reviews for his performance against Nigeria in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. 

This is his chance to lift a first major trophy and he would want to keep his head down and not let the buzz around him get into his attitude.  

The 29-year-old midfield general has cemented his place in Ouaddou's starting line-up. 

With PSL Midfielder of the Season Makhehlene Makhaula working on his fitness, Nduli should keep his place in the team.

Stellenbosch will know that if they give Mbatha some space, he has a powerful shot which can hurt them.    

He could get the nod ahead of Si

After being benched in recent Pirates games, Mbule might have shown the Ouaddou some aspects of his game that the coach might have missed about him after starting and dishing out impressive performances for Bafana against Lesotho and Nigeria. 

Appollis came back from the Bafana camp with a goal he scored against Lesotho and would want to be influential in his hunt for a first major trophy of his career.   

The speedy player has hit the ground running at Pirates, operating well as either a winger or right-back. 

Pirates strikers have been firing blanks this term, but Mabasa was on target in last season's final and might be needed for such a grand stage.