Meshack Motloung

Meshack Motloung

Moroka Swallows will be ascribing to the old adage once bitten twice shy, when they meet Orlando Pirates this weekend.

They were pipped 1-0 by the Buccaneers in a league match at Ellis Park last week. But they are determined not to get caught napping in round two - a Telkom Knockout quarterfinal at Olympia Park Stadium, Rustenburg, on Saturday.

Kickoff is at 8pm.

The Birds need to win this encounter that has the added pressure of being an original derby. It should bring back memories of the olden days that remain indelibly etched on the minds of those who watched epic encounters between these two sides in the early 1960s.

The derby used to bring the country to a standstill.

But it seems to have lost some of its charm.

Gone are those halcyon days when soccer fans used to fill the mecca of soccer, Orlando Stadium, to capacity. And soccer lovers used to have heated debates about the outcome of the encounter weeks before the game was played.

Swallows' assistant coach, Zeca Marques said they were unfortunate to lose to Pirates, but he believes the Telkom is a cup with a difference.

"We'll be producing surprise elements this time against our arch-rivals," he said.

The side has been working on combinations, and Marques believes that they are coming on well. The combination of David Radebe and Phumelele Bhengu, and Ryan Botha and Elton Mareleto is paying off.

The home side will be without Thulani Ngcepe and Sandile Ndlovu who are injured, but Fabian McCarthy who has been working hard on his fitness is likely to be in the team.