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JOHANNESBURG – Orlando Pirates’ Zimbabwean midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi is fully aware of the mammoth task on their hands in the CAF Champions League football but is confident they can progress this weekend.

Pirates face a stubborn Horoya outfit in their backyard in their final Group B encounter with a place for a spot in the tournament quarter-finals up for grabs.

The Buccaneers currently occupy third spot in the pool, with Horoya one point ahead in second position ahead of the decisive encounter on Saturday afternoon.

After falling short in their last match at home to FC Platinum of Zimbabwe, the Soweto giants must get a victory in Conakry, where the Guinean side have not suffered a continental defeat in their last 14 outings.

But the Zimbabwean international is adamant they have the capabilities to overcome the test and join their South African PSL compatriots Mamelodi Sundowns in the knockout stages.

“As a team, we wanted to win against FC Platinum after we lost away to Esperance, but as you saw we didn’t start well in the first half and then second half we showed character,” Mahachi tells KickOff.com.

“So, we need to go back to the drawing board and push hard as we prepare for Horoya. We need to keep our heads held high and I’m confident we’ll get through [to the quarterfinals].

“We need to focus and go with a game-plan, which the coaches will give us, but we need to go there and fight like soldiers,” he emphasises.

“I know it’s going to be difficult, but we need to show the character that we showed against FC Platinum in the second half and we’ll win the game.”