Orlando Pirates have gone into halftime leading CR Belouizdad 1-0 in their penultimate CAF Champions League group stage clash.
Hard-tackling Makhehlene Makhaula returned in midfield after missing the loss to Cape Town City due to suspension, with Kabelo Dlamini relegated to the bench.
The Buccaneers pulled ahead on 20 minutes as Relebohile Mofokeng leaned to the near side of the box following Tshegofatso Mabasa's deflected shot and finished from a tight angle.
Pirates' advantage came under threat six minutes later when a delivery in-between the central defence put Abderrahmane Meziane through on goal, but he went wide of the mark.
Breakout star Mohau Nkota, who inflicted grave danger on the visitors in the return fixture last November, looked to impact proceedings again with a short run-up, although he was thwarted.
Former Cape Town City man Khanyisa Mayo went close for the visitors late on from a free-kick way out of the area, but he snapped his lines and failed to trouble Sipho Chaine.
Belief from the visitors didn't drop as the second half got underway and saw veteran Islam Slimani drag a clever shot from point-blank range wide of Chaine's goal.
The Buccaneers took complete control over an hour in from the resumption and found a second when a scorcher by Thalente Mbatha clattered off the bar and picked out the top corner.
Pirates then opted to go to the bench moments later and decided to bring on Evidence Makgopa in place of Mabasa before Paseka Mako replaced Nkota.
The match became pretty even heading to the final stages with the Algerian side pushing for a way back and South African counterparts desperate to hold firm.
Belouizdad reduced the advantage albeit a minute into stoppage time when a low shot outside the box Abdelraouf Benguit wrong-footed Chaine and found the net.
The Soweto giants weren't under threat though but contained the final seconds to wrap up the win and qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Van Rooyen, Sibisi, Sesane, Hotto, Mbatha, Makhaula, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Nkoto, Mabasa
Subs: Buthelezi, Gilberto, Makgopa, Dlamini, Xoki, Mako, Rasebotja, Radiopane, Lebitso