JOHANNESBURG — Orlando Pirates assistant coach Craig Roslee could hold the key to the outcome of Bucs’ Absa Premiership showdown against second-placed Ajax Cape Town, at the Orlando Stadium tonight.

Roslee cut his teeth as a promising young Premier Soccer League coach with the Urban Warriors in 2007/08, when he replaced Mushin Ertugral as head coach of Ajax and won the Telkom Knockout that season.

He was, however, replaced at the start of this season when Ertugral returned to Ajax, only to leave the Urban Warriors and return to Turkey last month.

Roslee will have little love for Ajax, where he must believe he was not given time and a decent run to establish himself as a head coach.

He is now learning his trade under Ruud Krol and will be able to help Krol plot Ajax’s downfall with his inside knowledge of the Ajax players and tactics they utilise.

However, it will be Dutch coach versus Dutch coach as Ajax hired former Heerenveen and Ajax Amsterdam coach Foppe de Haan to replace Ertugral. It will be De Haan’s first official match in charge.

Ajax start with a psychological disadvantage in that the last time they played at the Orlando Stadium, they were hammered 6-0 in the MTN8 final by Golden Arrows at the end of last month. It was a night Ajax veteran goalkeeper and former Heerenveen and Bafana Bafana keeper Hans Vonk will want to forget.

Bucs aim to continue where they left off before the Fifa international break two weeks ago, at the same venue, when they destroyed Bloemfontein Celtic 3-1.

Bucs spokesman Mickey Modisane said: “I reckon Ajax cannot be looking forward to coming back to Orlando Stadium so soon after that 6-0 mauling. It could affect them.

“But I agree, Roslee could play a big role against his former club, while we have to win to shut up all the doubting Thomases who have written off our chances of doing well in the Premiership this season.”

Bucs welcome back their budding midfield star, Andile Jali, from suspension, as well as winger Bennett Chenene and captain Lehlohonono Seema who has recovered from injury.

Both missed the win over Phunya Sele-Sele.

Krol will have to decide whether to field his three Bafana stars, goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs, defender Lucas Thwala and midfielder Teko Modise.

The trio featured in Bafana’s last two friendly matches of the year — 0-0 draws in Port Elizabeth against Japan, and against Jamaica in Bloemfontein.

Said Modisane: “The coach will assess the three Bafana players before Saturday and decide.”

Modisane has urged fans to come out in numbers again. “The fans are our 12th man and we need to pack the stadium to give us the edge.”

Bucs defeated Ajax 1-0 in the first round played in Newlands.

Santos faced Kaizer Chiefs at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in PE last night.

Last night: Santos 0 Kaizer Chiefs 1, Wits Unjiversity 1 AmaZulu 2

Today: Platinum Stars v Jomo Cosmos (Moruleng Stadium, 3.30 pm – live on SuperSport 4), SuperSport United v Maritzburg United (Loftus, 3.30 pm – live on SABC1), Lamontville Golden Arrows v Moroka Swallows (Chatsworth Stadium, 8.15 pm – live on SABC1), Orlando Pirates v Ajax Cape Town (Orlando Stadium, 8.15 pm – live on SuperSport 4). Tomorrow: Free State Stars v Bloemfontein Celtic (Charles Mopeli Stadium, 3.30 pm – live on SABC1), Mpumalanga Black Aces v Mamelodi Sundowns (Puma Rugby Stadium, 3.30 pm – live on SuperSport 4)