Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic says their match against Platinum Stars serves as good preparation for upcoming encounters against Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Pirates resume their league campaign and will look to get back to winning ways with an encounter against Dikwena. Sredojevic is confident that the match will prepare them for encounters with Amakhosi and the Brazilians.

‘The Platinum Stars match is the best possible test we can get before the next two games against Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns. We are hoping for a good result [against Stars],’ he told reporters.

‘Except for [Justin] Shonga and Wayne Sandilands, the rest of the players have been with us during the Fifa break and we have worked very hard to keep up and upgrade what we have succeeded to do, and to correct what was wrong.

‘We are happy that we don’t have many injuries,’ he added.

The Soweto giants have displayed considerable improvement from last season’s nightmare showing, which saw them claim their worst-ever finish in the PSL era.

‘We are looking to keep the highest level of physical fitness, despite the Fifa breaks that usually kill the pace at which you are going.

‘But at the same moment it is helping us to recuperate and regenerate, and bring ourselves to the best possible shape before we continue in the league.

‘I believe we are going in the right direction and we are working hard from all the aspects, from the management, the players, technical staff and supporters who are supporting us,’ he concluded.

Pirates face arch-rivals Chiefs in the Soweto derby on October 21, before turning their attention to Sundowns on November 1.

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