Both the Students and the Brazilians will be looking for a full three points to better their positions and avoid getting too far behind in the Premiership race.
The Brazilians were undone by a fast starting Pirates in their match at Johannesburg Stadium, with Bucs 2-0 up and well in control of the game after just 11 minutes.
In the end Pirates won 3-1, although Sundowns can justifiably point to a strong penalty appeal early in the second half that, if given and successfully converted, would have made the score 2-2 and possibly produced a radically different result.
Nonetheless, the defending league champions must now refocus their energies ahead of the Clever Boys’ visit.
Gordon Igesund’s side is placed 11th, some 14 points off the pace of leaders Ajax Cape Town, although they do have a game in hand on all but two of the teams above them.
Three points to lift them back into the top half will be just what the doctor ordered as far as Sundowns is concerned, but Wits will have ambitions of getting back into title contention after suffering two consecutive defeats.
First they were beaten 2-0 by Pirates last weekend and then, on Wednesday, Kaizer Chiefs defeated the Clever Boys by the same score at their University grounds.
Those results have seen Roger De Sa’s team drop six points behind Ajax, a team they were level with just a week ago. The signs are that Wits are repeating the pattern of 2006/07 by falling away following the midseason break, but a win against Sundowns would go a long way to put those fears to rest.
When these team met earlier in the season, Sundowns prevailed 3-1 in Johannesburg and, with home advantage on their side for the first time in three matches, the Brazilians will certainly be targeting a repeat performance.
Sundowns:Date Opponent H/A Result
20/02/08 Orlando Pirates A L 1-311/02/08 AmaZulu A W 2-122/12/07 Free State Stars A W 1-019/12/07 Platinum Stars H L 1-212/12/07 Ajax Cape Town A D 1-1
Wits:Date Opponent H/A Result
20/02/08 Kaizer Chiefs H L 0-216/02/08 Orlando Pirates A L 0-213/02/08 Jomo Cosmos H W 2-021/12/07 Moroka Swallows H W 1-015/12/07 Thanda Royal Zulu H W 1-0
