Orlando Pirates are sweating on the fitness of key players as they prepare to play CS Sfaxien in the CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday.

The absence of several key players on Tuesday proved a factor as the Buccaneers suffered a home defeat and were eliminated from the MTN8 in a surprise reversal at the hands of Ajax Cape Town.

Not that stand-in coach Tebogo Moloi was prepared to blame the absence of the likes of Kermit Erasmus, Happy Jele and Thabo Matlaba for the 1-0 loss at the Orlando Stadium.

"Pirates is a big club with a squad of many players who are all capable. We play each and every competition to win," he said.

But Moloi also said they hoped to have a full squad available by the time they take to the field again on Saturday night against the Tunisians in their fourth group game. If they win, it almost certainly guarantees them a semifinal place with two group matches to spare.

"We need everybody for that game because Sfaxien will come out with all guns blazing," warned Moloi, who deputised on the bench for Eric Tinkler, who was suspended due to a sending off in the final game last season.

Jele is certain to be fit after being rested.

But there is less clarity on the state of the hamstring injuries suffered by Erasmus and Matlaba, plus the thigh strain picked by Thamsanqa Gabuza against Chiefs.

Rest is top priority for Pirates over the next 48 hours as Moloi revealed the club had taken to using a sports scientist to help them find the right mix of training and relaxation.

"We had some 38 hours of travel to Sfax a fortnight ago and 38 hours back again, and the sports scientist has advised us that the more we rest the players, the better it will be for them," Moloi said.

But on Tuesday night against Ajax, there were again signs of fatigue with Oupa Manyisa and Issa Sarr, in particular, not as dominant as they have been in previous games.