The Buccaneers are the only PSL team not enjoying an off-season yet as they still have the important matter of representing the country in Africa as they look to qualify for the group stages.
Pirates are leading 2-0 from the first leg in Mali two weeks ago and this week played two friendly matches against Vaal University, winning 2-0 in the first game courtesy of a Matlaba brace and 1-0 in the second game, with Gabuza on the scoresheet.
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“The objective was simply to give the guys some game-time and give everybody an opportunity to play,” head coach Eric Tinkler tells the club's website.
“Everybody was professional in their application but this was also an opportunity to create a good outing to get the boys away as a group in order to create a fun environment for the players. We are happy in the end because it was objective reached, we got a competitive game and the guys played well scoring three goals in the process.
“The key objectives were about keeping our shape, playing within our lines whether we play the 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 formation it is always about keeping our lines. It was about remaining nice and compact because the movement and shifting defensively is vitally important and from there we focused on the transition from defence to attack when we win the ball.”
Tinkler says he is pleased with the players' fitness levels ahead of the clash at Bidvest Stadium on Saturday.
“We are not too concerned about the guys' physical fitness levels because our players are pretty fit. We have not given them any time off except for a few days in between which should not have a physical effect on the guys' fitness levels because they have been active for about ten months now with no breaks to speak of in between,” he adds.
“If the guys are disciplined then 5-10 days will not have an adverse effect on their fitness.”
Siyabonga Sangweni and Mpho Makola are suspended for Saturday's game, which kicks off at 15h00.