Eric Tinkler sizes up Orlando Pirates ahead of MTN8 showdown

The Citizens welcome their Soweto rivals to the DHL Stadium next Tuesday, hoping to have given themselves an advantage before travelling to Orlando for the return match over the weekend.

Tinkler is admittedly wary of The Buccaneers being comfortable even when they are on the road, but he wants his City charges to also soak up the atmosphere. 

"Pirates, playing at home or away, is always a home game [for them], they get massive support, but on a personal note, I've always felt that the fuller the stadium – whether your supporters or the opposition's, it makes you raise your game another level," said Tinkler.

"So I don't think that plays an effect [on the game], I think the fact that – still in this competition – away goals count, so it's very important to keep that clean sheet, especially when playing at home.

"I think that's going to be the primary factor for us to make sure we give ourselves more than a chance when we go away from home, and I think that's very, very important for me."

The City mentor does see Pirates as a tough opponent to navigate past, but says the surprise draw away to Disciples FC in the preliminary stages of the CAF Champions League shows their “frailties.”

"They've got so many qualities, they have a massive squad to choose from, their [pre-season] preparations have been exceptional, obviously being able to go to Spain and play against the type of opposition that they've played against," he added.

"But we saw them drawing away to a team from Madagascar, so they do have frailties, and we've got to go out there with full belief in ourselves, knowing where their strengths lie – they are a very good team on transition, they like to build up and play through the phases.

"They also have players with great technical ability – [Relebohile] Mofokeng, for example, in one-v-ones is very dangerous, so we've got to be aware of those factors.

"But, for me, it's about us being brave, backing ourselves, and looking – especially at home – to play with that positivity and belief, and take the game to them."

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