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Cape Town - Orlando Pirates midfielder Mpho Makola says reaching the group stages of the CAF Champions League is imperative as it affords coach Milutin Sredojevic the chance to rotate the squad.
Makola has not been a regular in 2018/19 domestically but has been named the club's captain for Pirates in the CCL up to now.
Bucs started this season's edition with a routine victory over Light Stars from the Seychelles, however, they now face a sterner test against Namibia's African Stars on Saturday.
Pirates drew the opening game against Southern African minnows African Stars 0-0 meaning they are under pressure for this weekend's First Round second leg tie at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.
The 32-year-old, who was in the 2013 squad which lost in the final to Al Ahly in 2013, told reporters: "I know the feeling well.
"It has been our target to get that far, we did not say we want to win.
"We said we want to get to the group stages because we have a new crop of players that aren't usually used to this. It will be a great feeling overall.
"Going through obviously means the coach (Micho Sredojevic) has to rotate the team once in a while for some of us to get game time. So it's really important to reach the next stage of the competition."
