Not often do demanding fixtures impacting the league race directly come to a head in tandem for the second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns than the current period.

In a hamdinger Tshwane derby, SuperSport United will roll out the red carpet to welcome arch-rivals Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville Sunday afternoon (15h30), Jan. 19, 2020.

Sundowns are 2nd on the log, right behind Kaizer Chiefs, and trail by 10 flat points. They come into this Pretoria derby smarting over a Wednesday night loss to Orlando Pirates in Soweto.

The Brazilians won the first-round clash of this derby by 2-0 at the same venue. (Sibusiso Vilakazi and Themba Zwane were on target.) Although SuperSport eliminated Sundowns in the MTN Top8 semi-final, they will be hoping to repeat the same feat and revenge the Aug. 3, 2019 league-opener loss.

Matsatsantsa a Pitori lay 3rd on the log with 31 points after 18 games and a win may see them hop Sundowns. They trail Chiefs by 11 points. However, a victory for Sundowns reduces the lead at the summit to a 7-point gap.

For Sundowns, they welcome Zwane back to the fold from injury. Gaston Sirino is yet another player for SuperSport to be wary of.

They, however, will hedge their bets on Sipho Mbule and Bradley Grobler who may prove handful for Sundowns.