Babina Noko head into the decisive clash needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit after Pirates claimed victory in last weekend's first leg. The Buccaneers then compounded Sekhukhune's problems by securing a 2-0 Betway Premiership win over them on Tuesday.
It means Pirates have beaten Sekhukhune twice in four days, but Babina Noko cannot afford to allow those results to determine the outcome of their MTN8 campaign.
Instead, they must use their recent encounters to their advantage.
The two teams have now faced each other twice in quick succession, giving Sekhukhune valuable insight into Pirates' approach. Assistant coach Paulus Masehe will be expected to use that knowledge as he takes charge of the team.
Masehe steps into the hot seat after head coach Cedric Kaze was sent off during Tuesday's league defeat and will therefore be forced to watch Saturday's match from the stands.
Despite the setback, former Pirates and Sekhukhune midfielder Linda Mntambo believes Kaze's absence could work in Babina Noko's favour.
"I personally think that Coach Kaze's dismissal could be a blessing in disguise, because it might save them from losing against the same team three times in a row," Mntambo said.
The task facing Sekhukhune is clear. A 1-0 victory would take the semi-final to a penalty shootout, while a win by two goals or more would send them through to the final.
Masehe must therefore find the right balance between attacking with purpose and protecting his defence from Pirates' counter-attacking threat.
The recent defeats should serve as motivation rather than a psychological burden. Sekhukhune know what is required and have 90 minutes to respond.
For Babina Noko, Saturday is about resilience. They have already lost two battles against Pirates this week, but victory in the most important one would send them into the MTN8 final.
