Tlou Segolela © Backpagepix

Orlando Pirates will begin the defence of their PSL title with a home fixture against Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium on Friday, 10 August 2012.

Pirates ended the 2011/12 season top of the log with 58 points from their 30 matches, securing their fourth league championship in the PSL era (1996/97 onwards).

This season they will be looking to match the feat of Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United, who both managed to win three PSL titles in a row (1998-2000 and 2008-2010 respectively).

Arrows ended last season in 13th place on the log with 32 points, just five points above the relegation zone.

The KwaZulu-Natal side will be aiming for the top eight this season, a feat they have managed three times in the past (2002/03, 2005/06 and 2008/09).

In head-to-head stats, Pirates and Arrows have met 24 times in the league since 2000/01.

The Buccaneers have certainly had the edge overall, claiming 12 wins compared to just four for Abafana Bes’thende.

Pirates’ home record against Arrows is even more impressive, with seven victories and just one defeat from 12 matches.

The Soweto giants have beaten Arrows in the teams’ last five consecutive league meetings.

Last season, Bucs completed a league ‘double’ over Abafana Bes’thende by claiming a 2-0 home victory and a 4-2 away victory on the final day of the season that secured the league title.

The teams’ last league meeting was on 19 May 2012 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium:

Kick-off at 20h00.