The Buccaneers have been fighting neck and neck with perennial league winners Mamelodi Sundowns all season but a recent 1-1 draw with Siwilele saw them drop two points behind the Brazilians

Since then though Abdeslam Ouaddou's side have thumped TS Galaxy 6-0 and Golden Arrows 5-0 and will be determined to overturn a Richards Bay side in 11th place with just six wins all season.

Papi Zothwane's team have struggled for consistency but recorded a strong 2-1 win at home to Stellenbosch in their last game and have their own aspirations of a top eight finish. They are just two points off current eighth-placed Arrows.

Speaking after the game, the head coach explained that he has seen "growth" in his team despite the poor form this season and are determined to give Pirates a good game.

"There is growth in the team,” Zothwane said on IOL.

"It is going to be a difficult game since they are chasing the league title. For us, every time we play at home, it is not easy to beat us,” he added on the club's website.

"They should not come here thinking they will win easily. It is going to be a tough game, and we will be ready."

Ouaddou, meanwhile, admitted the pressure is on his team to claim maximum points for the remainder of the season.

"It's difficult you know. We have two teams now fighting,” the head coach said on SuperSport.

"I think it’s very good for the South African league – for me, I always say that it’s the best in Africa.

"The fans deserve to have this race until the end, to have interest because if there is no interest in football, people lose it and they are not interest anymore. So, yeah it's good we're giving tough time for the team.

"Let's see what happens at the end of the season. Until the last second we will be here."

This will be the third meeting between the two sides this season. Pirates won 2-0 in the reverse league fixture and claimed a 1-0 victory in the Carling Knockout semi-finals.

Abdeslam Ouaddou backs Orlando Pirates to thrive on tight Richards Bay Stadium pitch