Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has also addressed the potential of facing domestic rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
The draw is scheduled for Thursday in Doha, Qatar.
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Pirates concluded the group stages unbeaten, amassing an impressive 14 points, including a notable 2-1 victory over reigning champions Al Ahly in their final Group C match last month.
This performance has set up a possible encounter with Sundowns, MC Alger, or Pyramids in the knockout stage.
Reflecting on the prospect of meeting Sundowns, especially after a recent 4-1 league defeat to them at Loftus Versfeld, Riveiro highlighted both logistical and competitive considerations. The tactician noted that facing Sundowns would reduce travel demands, benefiting both teams' preparations.
The Spaniard also acknowledged the familiarity between the squads, suggesting such a matchup would generate significant national interest.
However, Riveiro expressed a preference for this encounter to occur in the later stages of the tournament, stating it would be more advantageous for all parties involved.
As anticipation builds ahead of the draw, Riveiro and his team remain focused on their preparations, aiming to continue their strong form in the competition.
"It's one of the three we can get in that draw. If it's Sundowns, it's good that we don't have to travel so far, so it can be good for the planning for both teams, we know each other very well, we're going to play again on the 15th as well," said Riveiro, speaking to journalists after the 3-1 win over Baroka FC in the Nedbank Cup on Saturday.
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"For me, to make any comment about possibilities in the draw… we have our conversations among ourselves in the technical staff, even in our last dinner in camp, which one could be better for the way we play football more than anything else," the coach said.
"If it's Sundowns, I think it's going to be a big, big clash for the country, it's going to attract a lot of attention one more time, but hopefully it's not this time, hopefully it's a little bit late in the competition, it could also even be much better for all of us, if that game happens just at the end," Riveiro concluded.
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