Jose Riveiro not thinking too far ahead in CAF Champions League

Pirates are currently second in Group C, with five points from three matches and next host Stade d’Abidjan before welcoming CR Belouizdad to Orlando.

11 points will all but put the Buccaneers in a comfortable position going into their final group fixture in Cairo against Al Ahly, but Riveiro refuses to get ahead of the task at hand.

"We look at the game, it's just an opportunity to collect points and consolidate the position in the table, and that's the game we can play – we cannot play the other game in the group so it all depends on ours and others' results to know where we can finish," said Riveiro.

"But we are halfway through the group stage, with three more games still to play, and before going to Cairo we still have to deal with CRB as well.

"So it's an opportunity for us to play more and show to our fans that we are ambitious, that we want to do well in the Champions League as well, and we want to represent the club at a good level on the continent, and that's our commitment.

"Then, where those three points or one point after tomorrow's game will take us, we don't know, but we have to first make sure that we deserve those three points tomorrow."

The Spanish-born tactician says the game in Abidjan was also an eye-opener for his younger side, especially in terms of physical strength during set plays.

"Tricky things like blockers in the set-pieces, and in that game the referee was not really aware, so hopefully tomorrow we can do a better job in those scenarios, and learn to minimise the things the opponent can be slightly better than us in," he added.

"Because, in the end, these types of games will always be decided by small margins and details, like for example, that game [in Abidjan] was an opportunity for us to deal with these circumstances in set-pieces, and tomorrow it's probably going to happen again.

"So, if we manage to abuse the opportunities of the opponents in those free-kicks or blocking situations in the corners, probably we will be closer to getting a good result."

READ: Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa relieved to end scoring drought