Orlando Pirates claimed a valuable 2-0 first-leg victory over Jwaneng Galaxy in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates named new signing Deano Van Rooyen in the starting eleven for his debut and featured development graduate Boitumelo Radiopane on the substitutes bench.
Both teams pushed for an early lead where a number of forward passes, switch of play and turnovers brought persistent offensive movement but there were no breakthrough.
Pirates did have the most of forward play through Monnapule Saleng's decoy runs in-behind but were denied space to penetrate and wreak havoc on goal.
The home team weren't out of it but looked extremely dangerously on the break and third-man runs over the top, but the likes of Olisa Ndah maintained the required lines.
Pirates, though, broke the deadlock on the cusp of halftime when Tshegofatso Mabasa made good use of a loose ball in the area following a corner and fired in the bottom-corner.
After halftime, Pirates aimed to increase the tally and very nearly did through a snap shot from a clever angle by Relebohile Mofokeng but he hit the side-netting.
Jwaneng weren't out of it though but pushed the Buccaneers relentlessly before seeing a pile-driver by Gilbert Baruti reduce sharp reflexes of Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.
The tempo dropped in the final exchanges with not too much movement displayed from either of the outfits as it remained poised.
Pirates brought on development graduate Radiopane in the final minutes and hauled off the goal-scorer Mabasa, with Nkosinathi Sibisi on as well and replaced Mofokeng.
However, Pirates put the result beyond doubt when Deon Hotto played a quick one-two with Patrick Maswanganyi and fired in a first-time shot.
The South African heavyweights enjoyed complete control ahead of fulltime, with little threat from Jwaneng and 2-0 it finished.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Van Rooyen, Ndah, Sesane, Hotto, Makhaula, Mbatha, Saleng, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Mabasa
Subs: Buthelezi, Sibisi, Gilberto, Dlamini, Maela, Kimvuidi, Rasebotja, Moleleki, Radiopane