Pirates could go nine points clear at the top of the table with a win, while Sundowns could close the gap to just three points, with a game in hand, if they end up on the right side of the result.
In truth there will be key battles all over the pitch at FNB Stadium, but we pick three that will be ones to watch in what should be a fascinating contest in the race for the title.
Relebohile Mofokeng vs Khuliso Mudau
Relebohile Mofokeng has been back to his best form in recent games, having flitted between the left wing and the central attacking midfield position, scoring and creating goals.
With Patrick Maswanganyi back, it is likely Mofokeng will be out on the left, and that puts him up against Bafana Bafana team-mate Khuliso Mudau, the best right-back in the league. Mofokeng has scored in his last three games and does love a goal against Sundowns. He netted twice in this fixture last season, and also got the winner in the 2024 Nedbank Cup final against the Brazilians.
But there are few better players offensively and defensively in the right-back position on the African continent than Mudau, and the wily campaigner will have a plan to counter Mofokeng’s influence. This will be a great battle to watch and a huge test for both players.
Makhehlene Makhaula vs Teboho Mokoena
Makhehlene Makhaula has recently been brought back into the Pirates team in the middle of the park and, at the age of 36, brings great experience for a clash like this.
He will be up against one of the best to do it in the PSL, Teboho Mokoena, and the battle for supremacy in midfield could go a long way to deciding the contest. If you win this area of the field, then you generally win the game, as long as you take your chances.
Makhaula has more than a decade in the PSL and, while not among the most heralded players at Pirates, he never lets the team down with his performances. Not flashy, he does the basics incredibly well.
Mokoena is a match-winner, both in terms of goals, usually spectacular ones from distance, and creating chances. He is the heartbeat of the Sundowns midfield. Cutting his ability to move forward with the ball and create shooting opportunities will be key.
Nkosinathi Sibisi vs Brayan León
We have not seen all that much of the Colombian Brayan León to know his true quality, but early signs are that Sundowns have acquired some player.
He has four goals in four starts (and six appearances overall), and looks a good finisher both with his head and the ball at his feet, and will certainly be a danger for Pirates.
He will come up against the centre-back duo of Nkosinathi Sibisi and Lebone Seema, and the greater experience of the former means he could be the man to keep an eye on León.
One area Pirates may look to target is frustrating the striker, who received a quite astonishing 20 yellow cards in 34 starts for Independiente in the Colombian league last season. He has 59 yellow cards in 124 league starts across his career, almost one every other game, along with six red cards.