Orlando Pirates face Saint Eloi Lupopo in crunch Champions League qualifier

Abdeslam Ouaddou's side find themselves 3-0 down from the first leg in the Democratic Republic of Congo and will become the first South African side ever to come back from such a deficit if they are to reach the competition proper.

Signs at the club this season though suggest that the impossible might be achievable, as their recent defeat only came at the end of club record of eight wins in a row, in all competitions.

Pirates' form has already seen them claim the MTN8 title, while they are in third place on the Betway Premiership standings with 19 points from eight games - three points adrift of league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns but with two games in hand.

They most recently beat Polokwane City 1-0 and reflecting on the result, Ouaddou said he sees enough character in his players to overcome their upcoming obstacle.

He said on IOL: "I have seen great character from my players as they were trying to score goals and go forward.

"They were not just protecting the goal. We have seen in many games that we were trying to go all out, but we didn’t have efficiency in the box at times.

"But let’s say, I hope they kept the five goals they didn’t score (against Polokwane) for Saturday."

There will be an air of uncertainty surrounding the game though after Lupopo came out with a club statement to refute allegations of mistreatment towards Pirates players while in Lubumbashi last week.

Part of the Lupopo statement read: "Following the defamatory allegations circulating in certain media outlets and on social media, Football Club Saint Eloi Lupopo wishes to firmly and categorically deny the accusations that it deliberately provided deplorable logistical conditions to the South Africans of Orlando Pirates Football Club during their recent stay in Lubumbashi."