Cape Town - SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates will battle for a place in the final of the Telkom Knockout when they meet in the second semi-final, set for Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

SuperSport have made their way into the last four thanks to a 1-0 win over Ajax Cape Town and a penalty shootout triumph against outgoing TKO champions and cross-town rivals Mameloldi Sundowns in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.

Matsatsantsa are looking to qualify for a second final in the space of two years, having won their first and only Telkom Knockout title in 2014.

As for Pirates, they overcame both Golden Arrows and Highlands Park 2-1 in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.

The Buccaneers are looking to return to the final for the first time since a 2-1 loss to Platinum Stars in the 2013 edition. Their one and only TKO triumph arrived in 2011.

This will be the teams’ 20th cup meeting. The previous 19 have seen Pirates claim nine wins to SuperSport’s five (plus two wins on penalties for each team), but Matsatsantsa have won their last three successive knockout matches against Pirates, including a 3-2 triumph in the final of last season’s Nedbank Cup.

United also scarred the current Bucs side by handing them a stunning 6-1 whipping at the start of the month in a league clash: it equalled Pirates’ heaviest-ever defeat and saw the end of Muhsin Ertugral’s brief reign as coach.

In all, SuperSport and Pirates have crossed swords in 70 league and cup matches - the Soweto giants have recorded 31 wins and scored 95 goals compared to 22 wins and 74 goals for the Tshwane side.

In terms of current form, United come into the match on the back of two successive 1-1 draws, the most recent of which came away to Kaizer Chiefs in a league clash on Wednesday, while Bucs have won three successive matches since their humbling at the hands of Matsatsantsa.

Kick-off is at 18h00.