Orlando Pirates will be eager to return to winning ways when they host TS Galaxy in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday evening.
The Buccaneers welcome their opponents to the Orlando Amstel Arena at 19:30, just days after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2026 MTN8 final.
With limited recovery time between matches, head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is expected to make several adjustments to his starting line-up as Pirates look to put their cup disappointment behind them.
Orlando Pirates Team News: Three Changes Expected
Pirates could make at least three changes for the encounter, with squad rotation likely to play an important role following their demanding weekend fixture.
Right-back Kamogelo Sebelebele has reportedly been ruled out through injury, creating an opening in the Buccaneers’ defensive line.
Ghampani Lungu is expected to move from his usual wide attacking position into the right-back role, giving Ouaddou an alternative at the back.
On the opposite flank, Nkosikhona Ndaba could be handed a starting opportunity, with experienced defender Deon Hotto potentially dropping to the bench as part of the rotation.
Simphiwe Masilela is also tipped to return to the starting line-up after making an encouraging impact as a substitute against Sundowns.
Appollis Could Return as Pirates Reshape Their Attack
Changes are also expected in the wide attacking positions.
Oswin Appollis is tipped to replace Tshepang Moremi on the left, while Kabelo Kgositsile could occupy the right-wing position if Lungu moves into defence.
These adjustments would allow Pirates to refresh their attacking options without making wholesale changes to the team.
Yanela Mbuthuma is expected to lead the line, with Thalente Mbatha and Thapelo Mokobodi potentially providing the midfield platform behind the attacking players.
However, the final selection will depend on Ouaddou’s tactical approach and the fitness of his squad.
Predicted Orlando Pirates Starting XI vs TS Galaxy
Based on the expected changes, the Buccaneers could line up as follows:
Goalkeeper: Sipho Chaine
Defenders: Ghampani Lungu, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Lebone Seema, Nkosikhona Ndaba
Midfielders: Thalente Mbatha, Thapelo Mokobodi, Kabelo Kgositsile, Oswin Appollis, Simphiwe Masilela
Striker: Yanela Mbuthuma
This is a predicted line-up, not the official team sheet. The anticipated changes reflect the need to manage player workloads following the MTN8 final.
Pirates Will Remember Their Previous Dominant Victory
Orlando Pirates have a convincing recent result against TS Galaxy to draw confidence from.
In their previous meeting on 22 March 2026, according to the supplied match report, the Buccaneers recorded an emphatic 6-0 victory over Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium.
TS Galaxy were reduced to 10 men early in the match following Lentswe Motaung’s dismissal, and Pirates capitalised on their numerical advantage.
Relebohile Mofokeng opened the scoring before Tshepang Moremi extended the lead in the 41st minute. An own goal from Mlungisi Mbunjana made it 3-0 before half-time.
Pirates continued to dominate after the restart, with Mofokeng scoring again and Kamogelo Sebelebele adding another goal in the 64th minute. Mofokeng subsequently completed his hat-trick to seal the 6-0 triumph.
That result will offer encouragement to the Buccaneers, although Tuesday’s encounter presents a fresh challenge against a Galaxy side looking to frustrate the hosts.
Can Orlando Pirates Bounce Back?
The MTN8 final defeat has given Pirates an immediate opportunity to show their resilience.
With the league campaign continuing at a demanding pace, a strong response against TS Galaxy would help restore momentum and give the supporters something to celebrate.
The expected changes could bring fresh energy into the side, but Pirates will need to be clinical in front of goal and disciplined defensively to secure all three points.
Do you expect Orlando Pirates to bounce back with a convincing victory over TS Galaxy? Share your predicted scoreline and starting XI in the comments.
