Bucs ready for Chiefs

Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates will take the field as underdogs, but with a new mindset, when they face their arch rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout final at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

That was the word from Pirates' goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs in the build-up to what promises to be one of the highlights of the Premier Soccer League season.

The Bucs were given a 3-1 drubbing in the Premiership Soweto Derby at the same venue earlier this month.

"This will be a whole new and different ball game," Josephs said on Tuesday.

"What happened last time was that a couple of our new players who have never played in a Derby froze that day. You will never beat Chiefs if four or so players are off form.

"So, we have to change our mindset and be a lot more positive."

Josephs said that lessons had been learnt from the 3-1 loss.

Bucs' pride had taken a big knock and the players were out to rectify their mistakes.

Pirates were not reading too much into Chiefs' 3-2 defeat at the hands of an unfancied Vasco da Gama in a league match at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

"We are not going to be lulled into a false sense of security," said Josephs.

"That result means nothing. This is a cup final and a Derby as well so it will be different."

Josephs said Chiefs were quicker to the ball last time.

"We have to come up with the goods. Chiefs are a good all round side. They play well as a team and are always a difficult side to beat.

"This will be even harder as it is a major cup final and we are aiming at two-in a-row."

Bucs won the MTN8 earlier this season when they defeated their other Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows in the final in Durban in September.

"Winning the MTN was a big boost, but we have to play as a team and minimise our mistakes," said Josephs.

He laughed at suggestions that Pirates had a plan for Amakhosi’s dangerous striker Knowledge Musona.

"Musona is only one player and there is no special plan for him," he said.

Bucs' coach Ruud Krol said he was not likely to spring any big surprises when he names his starting XI.

"The fact we reached two cup finals shows that our win in the MTN was no fluke. Reaching this final shows we have improved which makes me happy."

Krol said it would be the side which settled down first that would win the final.

"Nerves always play as big part in any cup final and this will be no different."

The former Dutch captain said he had worked on the mistakes made in the loss to Chiefs.

"We made wrong decisions in that match and Chiefs punished us."

Krol said the final was not about revenge.

"Revenge does not come into it. We want to win a second cup and beat Chiefs doing that. The final is special and we hope this will propel us towards our other goal and that is winning the championship in May."