Orlando Pirates: The nine games that stand between success or failure for cup specialist Jose Riveiro this season

As it has always been said - games in hand are not games won and having been in the game for some time, Riveiro knows this very well. After Sundowns played Sekhukhune United, Pirates find themselves four games behind Masandawana and will need to win all of those in order to stay in the race for a first Premiership title since the 2011/12 season. If Pirates win all of their games, they would be three points behind Downs, but the challenge is that while Pirates play catch-up games - Sundowns pile the pressure as they are the favourites and not expected to drop more points going into the final stretch of the marathon.

Pitso Mosimane always said "You don't have to beat Kaizer Chiefs or Pirates to win the league". This was when the five-time PSL winner was still the mentor of Masandawana. He was correct, he did not have to beat his two biggest rivals to win the league, as he did claim some PSL titles in seasons where he failed to beat Amakhosi and the Buccaneers. But for Chiefs and Pirates to win the league - Pirates, in this context, MUST beat Sundowns to win it. They are the only team who have stood pound-for-pound with Downs and have exchanged some telling blows. They meet later next month in what will be a top-of-the-table clash, provided that things don't change until then. Pirates will have to beat Sundowns. There are no questions about that.  

Gavin Hunt is having a bumpy season but always seems to have a huge appetite whenever his side goes out against the Soweto giants. SuperSport United recently completed a league double over Chiefs whom they beat 1-0 last year in October before thumping them 4-1 earlier this month. While they have not been particularly world-beaters against Pirates - Matsatsantsa A Pitori are capable of pulling a rabbit from the hat when playing Pirates. Remember the infamous 6-1 win in 2016 and the 2017 Nedbank Cup final in 2017 where SuperSport won 4-1? They meet in the next round of the Nedbank Cup, where Pirates are defending champions and the pressure is to do what has never been done before, and that is to win the title for a third time on the spin.

Among Pirates' biggest obsessions is the PSL title. But if you ask a number of the Buccaneers fans to choose between the PSL championship or the Caf Champions League, chances are high that the overwhelming answer will be the latter, which would make them the most successful South African team in the competition as that would give Pirates two titles. However, who is to say they can't win four titles this season as they are still in contention for the league, the Champions League, Nedbank Cup and have already won the MTN8. Pirates face Algerian side MC Alger in the last eight where they have the privilege of playing the return leg.

The big one. The Soweto Derby. Mentioned as one of the biggest rivalries in world football and it arguably ranks as the second most popular football match on the African continent after the Al Ahly and Zamalek feud in Egypt. The Soweto Derby between Chiefs and Pirates is always about bragging rights, but beyond that, it is also a normal game where the best result is a reward of three points. Pirates are the current kings of Soweto after Patrick Maswanganyi sealed the last edition with a stunning stoppage time Panenka penalty at the Calabash. The next version of this famous match is in May and at that time, the shape of the league race will have a better definition. Whether Pirates will still be firm contenders, is unknown. Whatever the case may be, Pirates will need to beat Chiefs in order to continue being ranked as the best team in Soweto and what better way to beat Amakhosi and earn valuable points to win the league and dethrone Sundowns from a throne they have sat on for the past eight seasons.

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