Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic says he is impressed by the improvement and character his players have shown this season.

The Buccaneers have been in an impressive form of late after recently extending their unbeaten run in the Absa Premiership to seven games following their 2-1 victory over Free State Stars over the weekend.

As a result of their recent performances, Pirates currently sit at the summit of the league standings with 50 points from 27 games, with their closest rivals, second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, six points behind them with three games in hand.

With the season coming to a close, Sredojevic has stated how his side will prepare and approach their upcoming league encounter against Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium next Wednesday.

‘We are extremely proud to have this group of players together, they are like sponges and accept everything in the learning process in order to grow as a team,’ Sredojevic told the media.

‘We are extremely happy, if we could look back two years ago before we came, Pirates were losing 20 games in two seasons, and looking at this we have lifted the winning and drawing ratio while dropping drastically the losing ratio.

‘Looking at all this, in the process we want to look at the three matches ahead of us and we know we have players that love, respect and play for the badge and supporters, and we don’t think about the results but rather on the performance that brings the results.

‘As such, we shall use these [few] days to properly recover and prepare before going to Harry Gwala stadium to face Maritzburg United, who are looking for the last straw in order to survive, which is pressure on them.

‘We shall play our usual game by possessing [the ball], looking to endanger the opponent’s goal, and we know it’s not a pleasant stadium to go and play because no team goes for a walk in the park there. But we shall look at the next match as a cup final.’

Orlando Pirates against Maritzburg United kicks off at 7:30pm.