Miguel Cardoso rejects Orlando Pirates clash as title decider

The Brazilians are 18 points clear of their Soweto rivals in the Betway Premiership and can extend that lead with a victory over the weekend, albeit having played four games more than Pirates.

When the two sides meet at FNB Stadium, many will see this as a title decider.

But Cardoso, perhaps usurpingly, rejects this idea.

"How I see this championship from the very beginning or from the very first moment I arrived here is that this is a championship where teams can lose points in any game. You can lose points at home against any opponent or you can lose points away against any opponent,” Cardoso said.

“So, whatever happens in this match, believe me that the approach I will have will be the same [approach] that I've been having. With a big responsibility for the next match, the next after this one because to be honest, there are three points in question and if people don't think about the next match, then you can be in trouble."

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Despite what is currently an unassailable lead, which has put Pirates under pressure as they continue to chase, Cardoso reckons the PSL remains unpredictable.

"I have to be very serious on the approach on this PSL, very serious. It's been quite challenging to keep this mentality because with this kind of mentality, it's difficult to always be on the right focus to approach every match,” the coach added.

“It's also been quite challenging to understand which other players are in the best conditions to play and also which ones we really cannot line up so that they can rest in order to have the capacity to resist to the fact that they might get injured.

“I think we're doing quite well in terms of that management and we still don't have to continue with that one. The focus after this match will turn of course, to the Champions League.”