Polokwane City will welcome Free State Stars in an Absa Premiership match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 7:30pm.

Rise and Shine recorded their second league defeat of the season when they lost 2-0 to Ajax Cape Town in the Mother City on Friday night.

The defeat left 12th on the league standings with four points from four matches. They are two points behind fifth-placed Mamelodi Sundowns.

Meanwhile, Stars register their third league defeat of the season when they lost 1-0 to Baroka FC in Polokwane on Saturday afternoon.

As a result, Ea Lla Koto are placed 15th on the league standings with one point from four matches. They are three points behind 13th-placed AmaZulu.

Possible starting line-ups:

Polokwane City: Chigova, Maponyane,Tshehla, Mbonani, Hlongwane, Jacobs, Seabi, Musona, Klaas, Maluleke, Ramagalela.

Free State Stars: Sangare, Phungwayo, Keita, Mbhele, Hlubi, Masehe, Vilakazi, Mobbie, Mokhuoane, Jantjie, Mthembu.

Head-to-Head

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers
2013/14 Stars 1-0 Polokwane Mngqibisa (og)
2013/14 Polokwane 1-1 Stars Tlolane; Nomandela
2014/15 Stars 2-5 Polokwane Sekola 2 (1 pen); Tlolane 2 (1 pen), Kanyenda 2, Maluleke
2014/15 Polokwane 2-3 Stars Ndou, Tema; Abraw 2, Sekola (pen)
2015/16 Polokwane 0-2 Stars Fileccia 2
2015/16 Stars 1-1 Polokwane Mohomi; Ngidi
2016/17 Polokwane 1-0 Stars Ramagalela
2016/17 Stars 1-2 Polokwane Dlamini; Mngomezulu, Ramagalela

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2013/14)

Home P W D L GF GA
Polokwane 4 1 1 2 4 6
Stars 4 1 1 2 5 8

Away P W D L GF GA
Polokwane 4 2 1 1 8 5
Stars 4 2 1 1 6 4

Total P W D L GF GA
Polokwane 8 3 2 3 12 11
Stars 8 3 2 3 11 12

What are the teams saying

Polokwane City midfielder Sammy Seabi: "Look, we are expecting a tough match because we will be facing our former coach, Luc Eymael, who is now coaching Stars. But we will be ready for them and we are looking to bounce back," he said.

"We have not been doing well and we did not perform well in our last two league matches. This is a chance for us to redeem ourselves and we need to beat Stars as we will be also be at home - in front of our supporters."

Free State Stars midfielder Sinethemba Jantjie:

"We didn't start well but as you know we had a new coach, so the team is starting to gel and we are trying to turn things around to start winning games cause we don't want to see ourselves in the same situation as last season,” he said.“I'm sure results will come because we've got a good team. It's just that we don't take our chances."

Polokwane City key players

Jabulani Maluleke: The attacking midfielder is an important member of the Rise and Shine squad and the chief orchestrator of his team's deadly attack. The Polokwane captain will be hoping to lead his side to victory over struggling Stars at home.

Rodney Ramagalela: The Polokwane forward has re-established himself as one of the top strikers in the Absa Premiership. The hard-running marksman will be eager to rediscover his scoring form and help end Polokwane's winless run.

Free State Stars key players

Patrick Phungwayo: The experienced full-back has walked straight into the Stars starting line-up as he looks to revive his career at the club. The former Orlando Pirates left-back will be looking to play an important role as his side record their first win of the season.

Nhlanhla Vilakazi: The hard-working midfielder is usually the link between Ea Lla Koto's midfield and attack. The 30-year-old player, who netted against Mamelodi Sundowns recently, will be keen inspire Stars to victory over Rise and Shine in Polokwane.