Timm missed out on Pirates' midweek match against Royal AM due to suspension after picking up his fourth booking of the season in Pirates' 2-1 victory against TS Galaxy last week Sunday.

Timm's return will bring depth and stability in Pirates' midfield as the Bafana Bafana international is a man for such occasions alongside Thabang Monare and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo.

The 31 year old who has been influential for the Buccaneers this season in the middle of the park will be looking to help his side get the much needed victory against their arch-rivals in a bid to end the 5 matches losing run against Amakhosi.

Meanwhile, Thembinkosi Lorch still remains a doubt ahead of the Soweto derby alongside captain Innocent Maela.

Lorch has been recovering from a knock picked up in the lead up to the home victory against Cape Town City two weeks ago while Maela was also out of action in Pirates' last two league matches.

The absence of Lorch in the derby could prove to be costly for Jose Riveiro's men as Lorch has been influential in Pirates' Nedbank Cup run this season scoring in every match from the last 32 round against All Stars FC until the quarter-finals against Dondol Stars.

With a spot in the Nedbank Cup final up for grabs this time around, the last time the two teams met each other in the Nedbank Cup was in 2016 when Pirates won 2-0 courtesy of a Tendai Ndoro's brace to see the Sea Robbers advance to the last 16 of the competition.