Orlando Pirates prepare for tough CAF Champions League clash against Pyramids

The South African giants are looking to continue their remarkable season under head coach Jose Riveiro.

The Buccaneers have already secured the MTN8 title, booked their place in the Nedbank Cup final where they will face arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs, and remain firmly in contention for the Betway Premiership crown.

With momentum on their side, Pirates are aiming to add continental success to their domestic dominance.

Pyramids FC, managed by Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic, have also impressed en route to the last four, but will be without key forward Ibrahim Adel due to injury - a blow to their attacking options.

With the second leg still to come in Cairo, Orlando Pirates will hope to make home advantage count and carry a strong result into the return fixture.

"In my point of view, the fact that they lead in the domestic league, doing well in the cup competitions, as well brilliant participation in the Champions League this season tells a lot about them," Riveiro told the media.

"Afterall, analysing them and knowing a little bit about the way they play football and their complexity that will require to stop them, tomorrow I can tell you they not in the semi-finals like I think the rest of us in the competition - [Al] Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns - we are not here by chance.

"We are here because we were doing the things very well all the way through the competition and it's a difficult team to control in defence. A lot of talent in the front four - experience.

"They know very well and they master the way they trying to play their football in possession. So, we know about the importance of make sure that tomorrow we can be in our best version otherwise universal version is not going to be enough.

"So, we accept the challenge, we ready to go, we really want to test ourselves one more time in this moment of the competition.

"And let's see, let's see how good can we be on the day and for sure it's gonna be an equal game, it's the semi-final of the Champions League, that's what I can tell you right now about them without saying so much."