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Bucs must 'leave it all on the field' says Micho

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates head coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic feels that a struggling Platinum Stars side can be as much of a threat as any other team in the Absa Premiership.

Pirates take on a bottom-of-the-table Stars side who have lost their last three matches, in Rustenburg on Saturday afternoon.

The Buccaneers have been in good form of late after beating Baroka FC and Mamelodi Sundowns in successive games, although they did need a late equaliser from Lyle Foster to grab a point from their most recent outing, a 1-1 draw against Polokwane City.

Sredojevic's priority is to ensure his players don't underestimate Stars, while he also wants his side to show the required levels of intensity and focus.

"There are no easy games in the league this season. Every team is in touching distance of the team above them so there is no time to relax because one game you are in the top eight and next thing you are out," the Serbian told the Bucs website.

"Platinum Stars are wounded lions, a team of that quality does not deserve to be on the bottom of the table. Often matches that one is expected to win are always the hardest.

"It is a known fact that teams play their best football when playing against the likes of Orlando Pirates and therefore their current form will not be a factor.

"We are rather making preparations like we would for any other game. We expect a tough encounter from a tough opponent and that is our approach to this match."

Pirates have not beaten Dikwena in three years, but Sredojevic does not feel that will be a factor on Saturday.

"This season has seen us do away with 'so-called' hoodoo teams. I don't believe there is such a thing as hoodoo team, it is just a mental block that has no basis in reality because we are a quality side," he said.

"Therefore, the approach will be similar to the approach we had for Celtic and Sundowns.

"We are fully focused and determined to play a positive brand of football, with high levels of concentration throughout the match because this is an important game for us.

"For them it will be a battle to move away from the relegation zone, and for Pirates it will be a fight to stay within touching distance of the leading pack. This is an important match for us, too much is at stake and for that reason we will leave it all on the field.

"As the Technical Team we are doing everything possible in managing partnerships, departments and our players as individuals in order to chase away any whiff of complacency in the team," he concluded.

Saturday's match kicks off at 15:30.

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