Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic is expecting a tough game against Zambian side Green Eagles in the preliminary stages of the Caf Champions League.

After finishing the 2018-19 Absa Premiership campaign as runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns, Pirates will be competing in the continental showpiece for the second-consecutive season.

The Buccaneers are scheduled to play against Green Eagles in the first round of the preliminaries – with the first leg scheduled for the second week in August in Zambia – before they return to Johannesburg for the second leg two weeks later.

However, Sredojevic believes that the Sea Robbers will be ready to take on their Zambian counterparts at the continental tournament.

‘It will certainly be much tougher than the path we took last year considering the level of opposition we are about to face,’ Sredojevic told his club’s official website.

‘Green Eagles are a high-quality side that finished strongly in the Zambian League, and they are also coached by Aggrey Chiyangi, who is the caretaker coach of the Zambian national team. We can expect them to be very strong.

‘Starting the tie away from home gives us an opportunity to get our campaign off to a good start and once that is done, the roads will lead either to Zanzibar or Angola for another tough encounter.’

Pirates will open their 2019-20 campaign with a mouthwatering Carling Black Label Cup match at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

‘We have, as always, the highest ambitions for Caf and our preparations which began early in our pre-season will continue to the occasion of the Carling Black Label Cup on 27 July,’ he added.

‘We need to show our readiness for the big games by continuing to build on the processes and foundations that we have laid down in our pre-season preparations.’

Orlando Pirates against Kaizer Chiefs kicks off at 3pm.