ORLANDO Pirates' run in the Nedbank Cup could be ended by their former players when they meet Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Sunday.

Sundowns coach Trott Moloto was still insistent yesterday that the Brazilians will be in the final at Soccer City on May 22.

Former Bucs players Benedict "Tso" Vilakazi and Lebohang "Cheeseboy" Mokoena could smooth Downs' passage to the final .

"It's just like any other game for me," said Vilakazi, who scored Downs' second goal in their 2-0 victory over Pirates in a league match in November. "We have played them before and we know exactly what to expect from them."

Mokoena, who played as if he had a point to prove during the teams' last meeting, said: "I'll just play to the coach's instructions and enjoy myself. The game of football is to be enjoyed, it's not about grudges or proving a point. If I score on Sunday I will try hard not to celebrate wildly, out of respect for the Bucs faithful.

"I have met Pirates fans who have been asking me not to kill their club."

Moloto feels Bucs don't have a ghost of a chance .

"I'm still standing by my word that we'll be in the final," he said. "We have had a taste of the Nedbank Cup and we'd like to win it again. It's a plus having these players (Mokoena and Vilakazi) but they have nothing to prove as they are some of the best players in the country."

Bucs midfielder Dikgang Mabalane once again repeated the refrain about winning the cup for "our long-suffering" fans.

Downs became the first Ke Yona champions when they pipped Mpumalanga Black Aces 1-0 in the final three seasons ago.