BUCLE UP

STELLENBOSCH FC will return to what they will hope is a happy hunting ground when they take on Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium at 7.30pm on Wednesday, aiming to get their season back on track.

The Cape Winelands team has sukkeled to jumpstart their Premiership campaign, following a 2-0 opening defeat to Kaizer Chiefs and a 1-1 draw against Magesi FC last week.

That modest return has started building some pressure on coach Steve Barker and his manne, who now need to string together results to build momentum.

It was therefore a timely boost for Stellies to secure a 2-0 victory over Sekhukhune United at the weekend in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-finals. Beyond the win itself, Barker would have taken comfort in his span’s chance to regain confidence.

The season ahead is going to be demanding, with a busy schedule that includes continental football in the Caf Confederation Cup, so losing further ground early on was not an option, especially after the departure of some jitz players since the end of the last campaign.

However, the task will not be easy. A trip to Soweto to face Pirates, a side also desperate to correct their early-season missteps, presents a stern test. Stellenbosch will draw some confidence from their previous encounter at Orlando Stadium, where they left with all three points and avoided defeat in the return fixture at Athlone Stadium last season.

Those two results may have cost the Soweto giants dearly in terms of winning last season’s league title, and they could influence Wednesday's clash, even as both teams look to reset and regroup.

Both clubs are in transition to some extent, with a few changes to their squads, though Stellies have made min adjustments.