Orlando Pirates should not think about scoring goals and rather play to keep a clean sheet in the home leg of their African Confederation Cup final against Etoile du Sahel on Saturday night.

So says their former coach Roger de Sa, who led the side to the final of the 2013 African Champions League, where they lost to Al Ahly of Egypt.

De Sa believes that Pirates can score in Tunisia in the return on November 29, which means keeping a clean sheet, and not giving away goals to Etoile, is the key.

He has passed this view onto current Pirates coach Eric Tinkler, who is the man tasked with formulating the game plan as the Buccaneers seek a first continental trophy since their African Champions Cup success in 1995.

"The key factor on Saturday is not to concede," said De Sa, who is now in charge of Ajax Cape Town.

"Everybody talks about 'we have to score, we have to score', but I think not conceding is going to be a bigger issue. If you can take 0-0 with you [into the second leg] it is a lot better than if you concede a goal and win the game still.

"With the way Pirates play, and the way those teams play at home where they open up a bit, Pirates can score.

"My view is to keep it tight. It could be a little bit boring at home.

"But if you can sneak a 1-0 win it is fantastic, but for me the clean sheet is the key at home."

De Sa is correct that Pirates have the ability to get away goals - they have scored in every one of their seven away matches in the Confederation Cup so far this season.

That included a thrilling 4-3 victory over Ahly in the away leg of their semifinal last month.

Kermit Erasmus is a player who could be a menace to Etoile defence.