Babina Noko have suffered three successive defeats to the Soweto giants this season - two in the MTN8 and another in the Betway Premiership.

Former Sekhukhune head coach Cedric Kaze has since parted ways, with recently appointed Papi Zothwane only losing one of his six games in charge in all competitions, a 1-0 reverse to Milford FC last time out after victories over Richards Bay and Marumo Gallants.

After losing out on retaining their MTN8 title to current Betway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, the Buccaneers signaled their intent to challenge for every other trophy on offer.

While they remain unbeaten in the league, just a point behind Sundowns, and with a game in hand, Abdeslam Ouaddou's charges are also the only South African team left in the CAF Champions League after the Brazilian's second qualifying round exit.

Pirates also have the Nedbank Cup to contend early next year, while they come into this game on the back of success in the Sowweto derby over rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

“I already started to prepare for this game straight away after (last Saturday’s) derby, and I've told the players, ‘it will be one of the most difficult games’. Why? Because, as I said to my boys, we have to be careful about a team who has been hurt," said the Bucs boss on SuperSpport.

“We have to prepare very well and to be at the highest of our form to be able to win that game, because I think it's a very tough opponent.

“We are not perfect. Every game is another battle where we have to improve and even when we are doing well, I'm still not 100 per cent convinced about some areas that we still need to work on, because we have very important fixtures coming up.

Zothwane said on SABC Sport: "It's a fixture where we have to change the approach in terms of how you want it because it's a cup game.

“A cup game is very different that a league game and most of the teams when we approach Pirates based on the personnel, the quality they have, playing at the Arena, and sometimes we tend to be too much on our players on what's Pirates is going to do than what is it that we can do to win the match and that's very, very important.”

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Jody February joins AmaZulu FC on loan