MAMELODI Sundowns and SuperSport United are hell-bent on elevating the Tshwane derby to lofty heights, and the two swear the clash deserves as much mileage as the famed Soweto derby.

MAMELODI Sundowns and SuperSport United are hell-bent on elevating the Tshwane derby to lofty heights, and the two swear the clash deserves as much mileage as the famed Soweto derby.

PROs Alex Shakoane of Sundowns and David Skhosana of United presided over a press conference yesterday where they appealed to the residents of Tshwane to support their hometown derby, which takes place on Saturday at Super Stadium.

Shakoane and Skhosana also agreed that theirs was actually the more legitimate of the two derbies, since the two clubs have dominated the local league in the past 10 years and won seven titles between them in the past 13.

But that was the end of any pleasantries between the two, who then proceeded to lay into each other in a bid to generate a buzz around this Absa Premiership match.

But while these two clubs have established themselves as giants on the field of play, the quality of the football has not been enough to bring fans to the stadium in droves. They also both lost their last matches - Downs to Santos and United to Ajax Cape Town - something that could dampen fans' enthusiasm.

The Tshwane rivals also said the media had not done enough to promote the derby.

"What puzzles us is that both we and United continue to whip these so-called giants at every turn," said Sundowns' Shakoane.

"And the league (title) will stay in Tshwane, the home of champions, again this season," said his counterpart at United, Skhosana.

Both clubs expressed concern about the players who have travelled with Bafana Bafana on their European tour - United more so as their no-nonsense defender Morgan Gould had to have his head bandaged in the game against Ireland on Tuesday.

But Brent Carelse looks set to make his comeback after a long injury layoff, while Surprise Moriri of Sundowns could also be in action after a knee injury.