Bloemfontein Celtic and SuperSport United will be eager bounce back to winning form when they lock horns in an Absa Premiership clash at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Kick-off is at 7:30pm.

With the New Year looming, the two club sides will be aiming to end 2017 on a high having suffered defeat in their respective outings over the past weekend.

Siwelele slumped to a 4-1 defeat away to Mamelodi Sundowns in their most recent clash, but despite the loss, the Free State side will remain in the top eight no matter the midweek result.

Phunya Sele Sele have claimed 10 points from six home matches this season. Their last ending in a 3-0 win over provincial rivals Ea Lla Koto. Victory over Matsatsantsa could propel the club as high as second spot in what is a congested league table.

SuperSport suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Baroka FC in their most recent encounter with the loss - their second on the spin - extending their winless run in the league to four matches. The Tshwane club still have plenty of games in hand, but head coach Eric Tinkler would surely prefer points on the board as they set their sights on edging towards the top eight.

Matsatsantsa have claimed just four points from as many away matches this season, and they haven’t won on the road since beating Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 back in August.

In head-to-head stats, Celtic and SuperSport boast an identical record in 47 league matches since 1990. Each side has claimed 11 wins in the rivalry, while no less than 25 matches have ended in draws. Moreover, Celtic have won six of their 24 home league matches against United, suffering four defeats in the process.

Last season the teams cancelled each other out in their two league meetings, playing to goalless draws in both Bloemfontein and in the South African capital.

Predicted Starting XI

Bloemfontein Celtic: Tignyemb, Ndengane, Rikhotso, Pfumbidzai, Lubisi, Motshegwa, Baloyi, Mahlasela, Hotto, Mabena, Letsoalo.

SuperSport United: Pieterse, Kekana, Daniels, Egwuekwe, Boateng, Furman, Letsholonyane , Mokoena, Phala, Modiba,Brockie.

Head-to-Head Statistics

LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2012/13 SuperSport 1-1 Celtic Hartog; September (og)

2012/13 Celtic 2-1 SuperSport Mogorosi, Gamildien; Zuma

2013/14 SuperSport 1-1 Celtic Niang (pen); Nyatama

2013/14 Celtic 1-1 SuperSport Mhango; Niang

2014/15 SuperSport 3-0 Celtic Ndlovu, Mokeke, Daniels (pen)

2014/15 Celtic 1-0 SuperSport Ndengane

2015/16 SuperSport 1-1 Celtic Grobler; Massa (pen)

2015/16 Celtic 1-1 SuperSport Abdul-Razak; Mpeta

2016/17 Celtic 0-0 SuperSport

2016/17 SuperSport 0-0 Celtic

LEAGUE RECORD (since 1990)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Celtic 24 6 14 4 28 23

SuperSport 23 7 11 5 24 21

Away

P W D L GF GA

Celtic 23 5 11 7 21 24

SuperSport 24 4 14 6 23 28

Total

P W D L GF GA

Celtic 47 11 25 11 49 47

SuperSport 47 11 25 11 47 49

What They Said

Bloemfontein Celtic assistant coach Lehlohonolo Seema

“We have done well [of late] but the score line in our last match [against Sundowns] is not good for us and the goal difference against us at the end of the day is not good for us,” said Seema.

“I think the guys played very well according to the plan, but they had a lapse of concentration here and there and then you get punished.

"We are disappointed with the heavy defeat because it is going to work against us but we will keep on fighting and hopefully in the next game against SuperSport United at home we can finish the year in a good way.”

SuperSport United head coach Eric TInkler

“We are emotionally and psychologically drained after the Caf final,” Tinkler said.

"However, that is no excuse for our poor Premiership form. We are professional footballers who are giving away too many soft goals since the Caf final.

“We’ve not changed anything. So you obviously question the commitment and the desire. The determination, is it there? That's the question I raise right now.

“We are behind the target we set ourselves so we have to keep pushing and up our game against Bloemfontein Celtic.”

Bloemfontein Celtic key players

Deon Hotto: The Siwelele winger is the club’s main source of creativity , and with six assists to his name in the league this season – it is no surprise that he is so highly thought of. The Namibia international will be aiming to end 2017 on a high with another eye-catching display as Celtic set their sights on breaking into the top three.

Lucky Baloyi: The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder has enjoyed a fruitful campaign thus far – starting every league game for the Free State club this season. He will be hoping to continue on his ways with another solid performance in midfield – keeping a potent Matsatsanta attack at arm’s length.

SuperSport United key players

Azubuike Egwuekwe: The towering centre back has been a preferred choice in defence for Matsatsantsa over the past couple of games with his attributes at the back complemented with the threat he possess come set-piece time. Prone to the odd mistake, though, Tinkler will be hoping for continued improvement from the burly Nigerian.

Jeremy Brockie: SuperSport are a better team when the New Zealand international is in scoring form, and having last scored in the league back in September, it is no surprise that the club have suffered a dip in form. The Matsatsantsa faithful will be hoping that he can return to his old ways in their final game of the year, just in time for a busy January period.