The Buccaneers are currently in second place on the Betway Premiership standings, just one point behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, with a game in hand.

Amakhosi are down in fifth with 14 points. Both teams remain unbeaten but Fernando Da Cruz's side have managed just three wins.

Abdeslam Ouaddou's charges, meanwhile, remain in the only South African team in the CAF Champions League, as Chiefs suffered elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup, in the second qualifying round.

Both sides will though play in the quarter-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup after progressing with 3-0 wins, Pirates seeing off Milford and Chiefs overcame TS Galaxy.

Speaking ahead of the game, Da Cruz said in the Citizen: "We are confident, but we know it’s a difficult game.

"I think we are ready to play this game.”

"It's the most important game in South Africa. I think it’s one of the best games in Africa. It divides the country, and I think it's a good moment for South African football.

"I'm feeling good. We worked well this week with the team. We are confident, but we know it's a difficult game against a big team.

"We come to the game with a lot of confidence – when you score three goals and don't concede, you've got a lot of confidence.

"But we always want to improve the team, even when we win. So we must keep this confidence when we go to the derby."

Ouaddou, who led his team to the Betway Premiership title last season, also recorded a 3-0 away win against Chiefs and a 1-1 draw at home.

He added on Soccer Laduma: "It's another game for us, and of course we did not lose last season.

"The boys and I achieved a lot last season, but what happened last season is all in the past, and we must move on because this is a new season with new targets.

"Ahead of this game, we need to have a positive attitude and arrogance and accept the position that we are in as favourites, because we are the league champions. So, we must accept it.

“But being favourites does not always mean that you are going to win. There is a new coach (Fernando Da Cruz) and technical team that is doing a good job at Kaizer Chiefs, and we see the renewed energy, so it's up to us to come with a lot of energy as well and to try to display good football for South Africa.”

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