The Buccaneers will be aiming to keep their trophy ambitions alive in a trip to the Atlantic Coast city of Monrovia, Liberia where LPRC Oilers will be their hosts at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Stadium on Sunday evening (18:00).
Coming off a 3-0 away win at Stellenbosch, Pirates will be keen to build on their latest win by recording another positive result on the road as they seek to eradicate the inconsistency that has plagued their season to date.
Sunday's tie is the first leg of the playoffs which determines the teams proceeding to the group stages.
"We have an important task in travelling to Liberia. We must get a good result over there to be able to qualify for the group stages.
"Of course there are some players that are not registered so there will be some changes, but our main focus is to get a good result away from home," points out club co-coach Fadlu Davids.
Pirates went past Congolese club Diables Noirs in the previous round courtesy of a 1-0 aggregate win and will face an LPRC Oilers team that was demoted from the Champions League after losing home and away to Raja Casablanca.
For all years that they have competed in continental competitions, Oilers have no record to be proud of having come stuck in the preliminary round or first-round more than they have ever proceeded any further.
They are seven-time champions of Liberia.
With injuries affecting their team and player registration-related matters, Pirates will have to reshuffle their team though Deon Hotto will still be looked upon for inspiration and goals after he struck a brace in midweek.
The second South African representative Marumo Gallants will also be away this weekend facing TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi in the first leg.