The Soweto giants are coming up against the defending champions on Tuesday in the last eight fixture that will be staged at the Orlando Stadium. The Sea Robbers were eliminated by the Dikwena Tsa Meetse in the 2024/25 edition, explaining why the mid-week fixture will be exciting. A recent CAF Champions League defeat will be a motivation for the home team.

The Sea Robbers face a challenge that will define their continental destiny, and they rise to the occasion to ensure their African dream remains achievable. Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou rested a number of his key players in the midweek game, probably in anticipation of what awaits them at Orlando Stadium.

After seeing their winning run across all competitions come to a stunning halt against Saint Lupopo in the CAF Champions League, Bucs will be keen to bounce back. They cannot afford to lose in the league, as that would mean they drop down and cede more ground in the title race.

The Buccaneers arrived in Lubumbashi with an impressive record of clean sheets in eight consecutive matches. But the Moroccan coach decided to tweak things at the back, and it backfired after what some might describe as trying to fix what was not broken. That left the Soweto giants with an insurmountable task of overturning the heavy defeat they suffered in the DR Congo.

The duo has been missing in action for quite some time now, owing to injuries, but recent clips from Bucs have shown them actively training with the other first-team members. The Sea Robbers are set for the CAF inter-club outing this weekend, which begs a question on whether the two centre-backs will make their long-awaited return.