MTN8 final: six players to watch

Cup finals are often about the big-name players stepping up to the plate for their sides and producing match-winning performances.

We select three men each from Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows who could just hold the key to their fortunes in the final of the MTN8 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday. Kick-off is at 20:15.Follow the match live on SS4, build-up starts at 19:00.

ORLANDO PIRATES

Katlego Mashego

Mashego has just returned from injury and so is fresh and ready to secure his place in the front-line for Pirates.

Bucs have not found scoring easy this season, despite creating numerous chances, and Mashego might be the man to ease those woes.

The Bafana Bafana international has already shown he is a man for the big occasion by netting the winner in the second leg of the semifinal against Kaizer Chiefs … can he write his name into the history books with a final winner too?

Andile Jali

Jali just seems to collect Man of the Match awards and deservedly so, he is dynamic in the Pirates engine-room, driving the side forward with classy skill and a huge amount of hard work.

He is also equally adept at breaking up the oppositions play. He may be just 20, but he is arguably the key man in this Pirates side at the moment.

Moeneeb Josephs

There is every chance that this final will go to penalties and if it does so, then there are few better than Moeneeb Josephs at winning a shoot-out, not just his athleticism in stopping shots, but the gamesmanship that he employs in putting opponents off.

But even in the 90 minutes he is a huge asset for Pirates and in many people's eyes the best keeper in the country.

MOROKA SWALLOWS

Gareth Ncaca

Things did not quite work out for Ncaca at Mamelodi Sundowns recently, but he has shown at Swallows this season what a good player he really is.

He orchestrates the midfield and has the ability to find the killer pass that unlocks a defence, something The Birds will need to break down the stubborn and organised Pirates back-line.

He is also good from set-pieces.

Keegan Ritchie

A rising star in South African football, Ritchie has had a growing influence on the Swallows team of late from his left-back position.

He defends manfully, but can also get forward and join the attack. He is very mature for a man of just 20, and manages to take the pressure in his stride.

He will be key in stopping the pacey Pirates wingers.

Shaun Haschick

With Siyabonga Nomvete almost certain to play no part in the final, the role of Haschick becomes all the more crucial for coach Rainer Zobel.

The 27-year-old is an excellent finisher, and were it not for a career dogged by injury would almost certainly have been a national team player by now.

He will want to put those past disappointments behind him, and what better way than by scoring the goal to lift the trophy for Swallows.