Abdeslam Ouaddou demands Carling Cup glory despite Orlando Pirates' AFCON absences

The Soweto giants will be without nine senior players who are currently with Bafana Bafana ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The Buccaneers take on the Carling All Stars at a sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium, with the Carling Cup trophy on the line in what will be their final match before the AFCON and Christmas break.

Pirates have an opportunity to make history by becoming the first Carling Knockout champions to also lift the Carling Cup - a feat that has eluded previous winners Stellenbosch FC and Magesi FC.

Ouaddou's side arrive in Durban buoyed by their recent Carling Knockout triumph, having defeated Marumo Gallants in the final to claim the trophy for the first time since the competition was rebranded under Carling Black Label sponsorship.

It was Pirates' first Knockout title since 2011, when it was still known as the Telkom Knockout.

However, the coach will have to navigate the Carling Cup showdown without several key players, including Sipho Chaine, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Thelente Mbatha, Sipho Mbule, Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi and Evidence Makgopa.

Despite the depleted squad, Ouaddou remains confident in his group and the preparation done during the week.

"It's a very important game for us. Every game that we play, we play it with a spirit of winning," Ouaddou told journalists.

"We prepared very well since the beginning of the week and analysed the opponent - the philosophy of the coach, the way he plays, and how he might approach the match with the players available to him."

The Moroccan tactician also sees the fixture as a platform for fringe players to stake their claim.

"All the players you will see are impact players," he added.

"I have a group that can challenge in any competition. There's a trophy at the end of the game, so it will be a competitive match."

With Pirates sitting top of the league standings, Ouaddou believes the Carling Cup is the perfect stage for squad players to show their readiness for a demanding second half of the season.