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Cape Town - Eric Tinkler feels Saturday's Carling Black Label Cup will be anything but a pre-season friendly, with pride a big enough motivator for both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
The two Soweto rivals will raise the curtain on the new season in the annual FNB Stadium encounter this weekend, where the starting XIs are voted for by the clubs' fans in what has become a staple of the South African PSL campaign.
And, while still ultimately a friendly encounter, Buccaneers coach Tinkler knows there is never any love lost when it comes to any match between Chiefs and Pirates.
"The Derby is never a friendly; we are going to play to win because it's what the fans want and demand," he said at a press conference.
"The Derby is special, it needs no motivation. Walking out to that game is unreal and I've had the experience for three years now.
"People are going to say that we are tired or that Chiefs haven't been playing but at the end of the day, we are playing a Derby."
Tinkler is, however, concerned about his side's fitness, given the fact they are currently in the middle of a gruelling CAF Confederations Cup campaign, while the MTN8 kicks off just four days after the Black Label Cup.
“We want to provide a good, entertaining game at the Derby but it's key to find a balance and keep our guys from getting fatigued," he added.
"We've got big games coming up so every opportunity to rest players is necessary. We have the MTN8 quarter-final [against Ajax Cape Town], the return leg against CS Sfaxien, and then the PSL opener [against SuperSport United]."
