Sekhukhune United head coach Brandon Truter has suggested he has already figured out Orlando Pirates ahead of their Nedbank Cup final due to earning a 1-1 draw against them in the league.
The DStv Premiership draw was this past weekend after Edwin Gyimah cancelled out an opener for the Buccaneers by Terrence Dzvukamanja in the first-half.
Chasing a CAF Champions League spot, the Sea Robbers fielded their regular line-up, with only Miguel Timm not in the squad while Nkosinathi Sibisi was on the bench.
With the Nedbank Cup final looming between the sides, Truter says he knows what to expect from Pirates, as they can't change their line-up much. They should be unpredictable after making six changes to their regular starting team on the weekend.
"It's difficult to say. I don't want to pre-empt things. I think in the sense of the changes to their line-up, in terms of Sibisi and Timm not being available, I think there's not much they can change," Truter said in a press conference.
"But, of course, the occasion plays a part in terms of the adrenaline for the final. We had six changes, so it's a guessing game for them in the final, what we're doing there and how we're going to approach that game.
"So, yes, I don't see Pirates changing that much going to the final, especially the line-up," he said.
However, the former AmaZulu tactician stated he does not want to "undermine" Pirates who will have the supporters, the history and the experience of having won the MTN8 earlier this season.
"I don't want to say. It says a lot about our depth and what we expect in the final when we bring our regulars back. I don't want to undermine Pirates in any way, it's a team that has won the MTN8 and so they got one cup in the cabinet," Truter went on.
"They will have the support. They will have the history and the experience from this season being in a cup final already. But for us we can sense it up. We will spring a surprise here and there.
"I don't want to talk too much about the final. We still have SuperSport United (in the last game of the season). We still have everything to play for, so it's another cup final for us in terms of staying in the top eight and then we go to the cup final, hopefully to win the cup," he added.
Sekhukhune can do Pirates a favour if they deny SuperSport a result. The latter club is equal on points with the Buccaneers on the log. The race for second spot and the top eight positions will heat up for the final time this season.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
