Pirates gunning for Wits, Celtic out to upset leaders Sundowns

16 March 2016 - 02:13 By Marc Strydom

Four wins in a row, the last a five-goal thrashing of Jomo Cosmos, have lifted Orlando Pirates' confidence, Bucs winger Luvuyo Memela said ahead of his team's Absa Premiership fixture against Bidvest Wits Wednesday night. Pirates meet second-placed Wits, who need a win to keep in touch with leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, at Bidvest Stadium on the back of four league and cup victories.The Bucs' 5-0 hammering of Cosmos on Saturday was the biggest winning margin for Eric Tinkler's men this season, taking Pirates into the top six."The confidence is getting there," Memela said on Tuesday.Bucs, though, will meet a determined Wits. Gavin Hunt's team are seven points behind Sundowns, who face Bloemfontein Celtic in Atteridgeville."Wits will fight for the win," Memela said.Hunt has been impressed at his side, who notched three wins in a row to recover from a mini-slump at the start of 2016."In times of adversity there is togetherness," he said.Sundowns, meanwhile, have won their last five matches and Celtic have lost their last five, but Tiyani wa ka Mabasa reports that Downs skipper Thabo Nthethe expects a tough clash at Lucas Moripe Stadium tonight.It appears to be a mismatch, with Sundowns top of the standings with 52 points from 22 matches and Celtic in the relegation zone in 12th spot, with 22 points .Nthethe said: "They [Celtic] want to do well and move up the table, so it is not going to be easy for us. We want the three points, but we know we have to fight for that."..

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