Orlando Pirates have been in hot pursuit of breaking Mamelodi Sundowns’ seven-year winning streak in the Premiership, but with their destiny out of their hands, it could be worth looking elsewhere to end their season on a high.
A lot of emphasis has been placed on winning the Betway Premiership this season, but CAF Champions League success could also be coupled with a third successive Nedbank Cup triumph, and achieving those could equally be as good for Jose Riveiro and his Pirates side.
The Buccaneers qualified for the quarter-finals of the continental competition, top of their group on 14 points from six matches, beating strong competition in twelve-time champions Al Ahly, whom they managed to beat at the intimidating Cairo International Stadium 2-1, after playing out a 1-1 draw at Orlando Stadium.
It was the Red Devils who denied the Sea Robbers last time, handeding Pirates a 3-1 aggregate defeat in the 2013 Champions League final, under the leadership of Roger de Sa.
Boasting arguably what is their best side in many seasons, Riveiro and his troops have been caught up in a high-tension, no-holds-barred collision with Sundowns for league supremacy. With a sizeable 15-point gap currently separating the two teams, the shift to continental football could be timely for the 1995 champions.
Sundowns will be tied up in a Nedbank Cup last eight battle with Sekhukhune United on Friday, while Pirates will be focused on how to best navigate their way through the suburbs of the Algerian capital, Algiers, as they prepare to visit MC Alger at the Stade du 5 Juillet on Tuesday.
In what has been an intense season, punctuated by a heavy load of fixtures, the Buccaneers will go into the clash against The People's Club refreshed, as the international break has given them a two-week cushion after coming off a gruelling 2-1 win against Sundowns.
Alger currently sit at the summit of the Algerian Ligue 1, and are unbeaten in 11 matches. Their last loss was against Khanyisa Mayo’s CR Belouizdad – a 1-0 defeat in the Algerian Cup round of 32 last month.
The last league loss dates back to November last year, with a 3-1 loss against the very same Belouizdad side they currently lead by seven points in their league standings after 20 matches.
Their recent record indicates that Pirates will have it all to do to reach the semi-finals, and the slight advantage they have of playing their first leg away from home could be crucial. The return fixture at Orlando Stadium will mean they know exactly what they need to do to advance to the next round.
The Buccaneers have already got the better of Belouizdad with 2-1 victories in both legs earlier in the tournament, and while they will still have high priority in ensuring they keep the pressure on Sundowns, they are closer to the finish line in the Champions League.
They should also place greater emphasis on the competition, as it can shape their season into a succesful one.