Orlando Pirates coach Fadlu Davids is expecting a very difficult Nedbank Cup clash against AmaZulu on Sunday.

The Buccaneers will kick start their campaign against Usuthu, having played their last DStv Premiership game in December following the PSL break.

However, Davids revealed that he will have 95 percent of his squad back at training following a few players participation in the Africa Cup of Nations and the inaugural DStv Compact Cup.

“Preparations have gone well, considering that we had disruptions in terms of players falling ill, plus some being away in the DStv Compact Cup,” Davids told his club’s official website.

“Luckily, now in the final week before our first game back, it will be the first time that we’ll have at least 95% of our squad back training together. So that is a big positive.

“A cup game is different to a league game,” he said. “AmaZulu were a bit more conservative in the league games.

“They managed to get a draw on their home ground. We expect them to fix their mistakes and come out guns blazing against us, knowing that we beat them in the last game of last year.

“It’s going to be a very different encounter with it being a cup game, and the two teams will look at this tournament as their chance to finish the season with silverware.”