COMMENT: Do Orlando Pirates have the pedigree to top their Caf Champions League group?

Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants Orlando Pirates have shown promising signs in their bid for continental glory this year.

The Soweto giants are heading into match-day three of the 2018/19 Caf Champions League Group B undefeated in the competition having registered four wins and two draws which includes the qualifying rounds encounters.

A convincing 3-0 home victory over Guinea's Horoya AC took Pirates to the summit of the Group B standings last month with the Soweto giants having opened their group stage campaign with a 0-0 away draw against Zimbabwean champions FC Platinum.

However, the big question is - can the 1995 Champions League winners maintain their lead and go on to win the group?

That question will definitely be answered after the team's next two matches in the competition which will be against Esperance de Tunis with Pirates scheduled to face the defending champions home and away in back-to-back games.

The encounters against the Tunisian football powerhouse will surely test Bucs' credentials as they look to advance to the knockout stages of Africa's most prestigious club competition.

Pirates' recent domestic form has suggested that they remain rather vulnerable in defence, but once Alfred Ndengane has become better acquainted with his new team-mates, the hard-tackling defender's presence should rectify that problem.

Players such as Happy Jele, Justin Shonga, Asavela Mbekile and Augustine Mulenga are quality players with international experience, while Mpho Makola, Thembinkosi Lorch, Thabo Matlaba and Vincent Pule will offer exactly the support they require.

The Pirates technical team has a wealth of experience when it comes to continental football with head coach Milutin Sredojevic having led two teams to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

His assistant, Rulani Mokweni was part of the Mamelodi Sundowns technical team that guided the PSL giants to the 2016 Champions League title, having won their group.

The desire to once again succeed on the continent is immense at Pirates and the team looks ready to rise again and make a big statement by finishing at the top of Group B.