The league leaders remain the only unbeaten team in the South African top-flight, having won all of their opening seven games.

They are MTN8 champions but lost in the first round of the Carling Knockout Cup to eventual winners Magesi, while they come into this game on the back of a 2-1 CAF Champions League victory over CR Belouizdad.

Stellies, in fourth, could move to within three points of Pirates with a win at the Orlando Stadium.

They went down 2-0 to Stade Malien in their CAF encounter, and have now not won in their last three games, previously going down to Marumo Gallants 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup ahead of a 1-1 league draw with TS Galaxy.

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro recently praised the quality of the young squad he has assembled.

He said on SuperSport: "From my point of view, I don't see the players as youngsters with inexperience or those with experience - but the key issue for me is whether a player is good or not good enough.

"The key thing for me is whether a player is ready or not - or is he convenient for the game or not. It is not about when he was born, whether he is 19, 20 or 30 years old.

"In our case, the boys are showing that they are ready and capable of surviving in different environments - and we are happy about that. They are also inspiring other youngsters in our structures to be ready, because age is not going to be a problem if they are ready."

Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker spoke after his side's recent defeat. He told the club's website: "It's obviously not the result we wanted and it was a bit disappointing. I don't think they were the better team.

"They got a big, deflected goal which was the only chance they created in the first half, and while we didn't create much ourselves, we did hit the crossbar.

"But, it was a learning curve for us and a good experience. During the game, we played nine players aged 23 or younger so there is a lot of learning to be done.

"There were certain areas where we are a better team than we demonstrated."

Orlando Pirates aim to maintain perfect start against Stellenbosch