Cape Town - Orlando Pirates have left the country for a pre-season camp in Zambia as they step-up their preparations for the new season.
Pirates are heading to Zambia after returning from a week-long camp in Nelspruit.
Bucs are preparing for a busy campaign that will include making a return to the CAF Champions League after finishing the previous campaign as runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns.
The club will play two friendly matches in Ndola against Congolese giants TP Mazembe and local side Forest Rangers.
Soweto giants coach Milutin Sredojevic insisted that proper preparations are a good foundation for the season ahead.
He told his club's website: "We are in the building phase of our pre-season. This is the stage where we lay down the foundation for the season that lies ahead.
"We had a successful trip to Nelspruit where we got to blend the old and new players together, and now we are off to Zambia where we'll continue to strengthen all departments by exposing them to different playing conditions and of course stronger opposition."