ORLANDO Pirates defender Robyn Johannes is gearing himself up for pre-season with the Buccaneers, but believes his future lies away from the club.

Johannes spent last season on loan at Lamontville Golden Arrows, but looks unlikely to be retained by Abafana Bes'thende. Interest from Ajax Cape Town has also waned in recent weeks.

But with a year still remaining on his contract at Pirates, he will have no choice but to return to the club when they begin to build for the 2012-13 season on June 26.

"Robyn has a year remaining on his contract with Orlando Pirates and he will honour that," the player's agent Glyn Binkin said. "But he is keen to explore options elsewhere and we are on the look-out for opportunities for him. He has been around in the PSL for a long time but is still only 25 years old, so his best years are ahead of him."

The club have made their intentions clear by removing Johannes from their list of players that fans can vote for in the Carling Black Label Cup, a sure sign that there is little intention to use him in the new campaign. But with just three centre-backs in the current squad - Lucky Lekgwathi, Siyabonga Sangweni and Rooi Mahamutsa - Pirates will also be loath to release him until they have found a replacement.

And with Morgan Gould having joined Kaizer Chiefs and Erick Mathoho likely to join him, there are few other defenders available in the PSL with his experience.