Benni warns team-mates

Johannesburg - Benni McCarthy has warned his Orlando Pirates team-mates to be on their guard come the defending champions' Premiership opener with Golden Arrows.

Pirates kickstart their PSL title defence against Abafana Bes'thende on Friday night in Soweto, with Bucs having retained their crown with a win over Arrows on the final day of last season.

The Sea Robbers twice came from behind to defeat Muhsin Ertugral's side 4-2 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and McCarthy, who bagged a brace in the showdown in Durban, believes last season's encounter will have little baring on this coming weekend's clash.

"Look, this will be a totally different ball game," the former Bafana Bafana striker told Bucs' official website.

"Sure, we beat Arrows 4-2 the last time we played them however; this does not mean that it will be a walk-over on Friday.

"We need to prepare very well for them, and make sure that on the night we make use of our goal scoring opportunities."

Meanwhile, the veteran marksman insists Augusto Palacios' charges will give a better account of themselves this week following last Friday's late MTN8 quarter-final win over Bloemfontein Celtic.

"The game against Celtic was great, but we fought very hard to get the result we got," explained McCarthy.

"Our attack has been phenomenal but in that particular game we could not score from open play, which is something we are working on.

"I believe on Friday night we will be better prepared and we will do our best to score. This will be a good game.

"On Friday, we start our long journey which is the league campaign, and we'll try to get the ball rolling in the best way possible."