ORLANDO Pirates have a point to prove against SuperSport United in the two teams' Absa Premiership meeting at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday (3.30pm).

The Buccaneers meet SuperSport for the second time in succession following a 2-0 Telkom Knockout semifinal defeat at Orlando Stadium a fortnight ago.

That match was Pirates' first since the shock death of captain Senzo Meyiwa and Bucs appeared clearly affected by events leading up to the game, especially in a flat first half where they conceded both goals.

Club captain Lucky Lekgwathi believes Pirates' hunger to improve on a declining league position - Bucs have slipped to eighth place - will begin to supersede their grief of the past three weeks on Sunday.

"We had a meeting before the last game and said, 'Obviously it's going to be tough. But we mustn't blame the way we play on Senzo - we had a bad week but we have to go out and play for him'," Lekgwathi said.

"OK, we didn't play too well. We gave them too much room. But that's something we had done in some previous games too. The coach has been working very hard on us rectifying that."

SuperSport coach Gordon Igesund also has the task of ensuring his players' minds are on the game, for a different reason.

Matsatsantsa's next match is the Telkom Knockout final against Platinum Stars at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, November 29.

"The most difficult job I've got this week, of course, is to get our players to focus purely on Pirates," Igesund said.

"Michael Morton and Thabo Moloi are on three yellow cards, so we won't risk them picking up a fourth and being suspended for the final."