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- Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker is looking forward to their encounter against Cape Town City FC.
- Stellies are 11th on the Absa Premiership standings, while City lie seventh.
- It will be the first time a top-flight Cape-derby will be played in Gauteng.
It's the tail-end of the 2019/20 campaign, with Absa Premiership teams hunting for higher log positions in the Premier Soccer League's (PSL) bio-bubble in Gauteng.
Log leaders Kaizer Chiefs' 3-1 defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday opened the door for second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns to reduce the deficit to three points when they face Maritzburg United on Friday.
At the other end of the table, Black Leopards, AmaZulu, Chippa United, Polokwane City and Baroka FC are all fighting for survival, including Stellenbosch FC.
"Stellies", in their inaugural top-flight campaign, will be eager to retain their PSL-status for next season's mid-October start.
So far, Stellenbosch, currently in 11th position with 30 points, have held their own as they aim to avoid the drop to South Africa's second tier GladAfrica Championship.
The Western Cape outfit next face cross-town rivals Cape Town City FC in a "unique situation", as described by Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker with the Cape-derby to be played at Tuks Stadium in Pretoria.
"Yes... it does not sound right when you say Cape-derby in Gauteng," Barker said in a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
"There has been a rivalry in a short space of time that has been built between ourselves and Cape Town City... when Benni (McCarthy) was still coach some of the matches were quite heated, even at the beginning of this season it was quite a heated battle.
"There are players who know each other very well, like Robyn Johannes, who has played there. The players know each other having played against each other in Cape Town growing up. And it's good. It's healthy.
"We want to create that derby feeling. We want to be the highest finishing team in the Western Cape this season. We've got one team standing in our way and that's Cape Town City."
City, who defeated 3-2 Masandawana on Monday, will want to continue their momentum as they look to seal a top eight finish.
Head coach Jan Olde Riekerink says the derby encounter will be a far tougher 90 minutes than their victory over the Brazilians.
"We have big respect for the opponent (Sundowns). I saw all their three last matches. I think they have a very good team. They also have a very good coach. He won a lot of titles. So, we know it was a big challenge," said Riekerink.
"They (Sundowns) started favourites in this game and it will be different in the next game, the derby. We are in the seven position. Our goal is to be in the top eight. So, sometimes this game (derby) is more difficult than the game today (against Sundowns)."
Thursday's match is scheduled for 18:00.
Channel 202
