Pirates have downplayed their chances of winning the title, despite being in second place behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who now just have a one point lead at the summit.

The Soweto giants have lost just one game in 2018, a 3-0 defeat to Ajax Cape Town in the Mother City in January. They have won seven matches out of nine matches in the second half of the season, two of them coming against giants Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs.

Mabalane, who won the league title with the Buccaneers during his playing days, says Pirates are one of the title favourites and cannot run away from the pressure that comes with being a candidate.

“You know those are mind games. They just don’t want the pressure to be on the players. I have played the game before and we’ve had coaches, especially when you are close to getting the prize, saying they are not title favourites because they don’t want the pressure to be on the team,” Mabalane says.

“It’s just a tactic to handle the pressure from media and everyone else and to deflect pressure to Sundowns. They are challenging for the title and the pressure is on whether they like it or not. The fact is the pressure is on and they know that they have a chance of challenging for the league.“

With players such as Thembinkosi Lorch, Luvuyo Memela and Justin Shonga doing well for the Buccaneers, they definitely have a good chance of winning the title.

Pirates will next host Bloemfontein Celtic at Orlando Stadium on April 4