Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Struggling Thanda Royal Zulu are under immense pressure to start geting back on the winning trail if they are to beat the big chop to the First Division.

They have a tricky Absa Premiership date against the inconsistent Orlando Pirates at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Saturday (3.30pm).

Royal's woes worsened last weekend when they were booted out of the Nedbank Cup by First Division outfit Mpumalanga Black Aces who easily beat them 2-0.

Roger Palmgren, Royal's coach, has conceded that they were going through a bad patch but was quick to point out that they will soon turn the corner.

"We are in a very bad, bad situation on the log because positive results have not been coming our way but we need to regroup as a matter of urgency.

"We just need to pull up our socks and convert our opportunities," said Palmgren, who are out for revenge after Bucs walloped them 3-1 in the first round in Johannesburg.

It will be the third meeting involving the two sides after Royal won the Telkom Knockout clash on penalties where coach Owen Da Gama began his new job at Bucs.

While Royal are still trying to put their act together, Pirates are not in a different situation at all after an early Ke Yona exit where Santos beat them on penalties last Sunday.

"We need to win and are going to fight for the three points. It won't be an easy game," said Da Gama yesterday.

Da Gama is expected to reshuffle the team after this week's announcement by the club that as many as five regulars will not be available on Saturday.

Goalie Senzo Meyiwa and the temperamental Francis Chansa are obvious replacement.

Also out on suspension are Innocent Mdledle and Lebohang Mokoena (one match),