Sekhukhune United defender Daniel Cardoso believes Orlando Pirates could feel the heat when they travel to Polokwane for Tuesday's DStv Premiership clash.
Having played out a goalless draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final first leg over the weekend, Orlando Pirates are set to return to league action on Tuesday when they travel to Polokwane to face relegation-threatened Sekhukhune United.
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The hosts currently occupy 15th position in the league standings, one point above bottom-of-the-log Marumo Gallants, but are in defiant mood ahead of the encounter.
Speaking ahead of the match, star defender Daniel Cardoso, who previously played for Pirates' arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs, believes the Buccaneers could struggle in the hotter conditions in Polokwane, where sweltering conditions are currently prevailing.
"The mood has been good. We had a friendly during the FIFA break which helped us, prepared us mentally as well, and I think the heat down here is going to be a big factor too," Cardoso told the club's media team.
"It's a bit hotter down in Polokwane than it is in Jo'burg so it's going to be an exciting game. I know Pirates are doing very well at the moment, they are on a high and we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but when you come up against one of the a big-three in the country, your mood changes.
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"It's big match temperament, and we've got a few players [who have that] like you would've seen in Sundowns game where we upped the ante, so the boys know what's at stake.
"They know where we are lying at the moment, and we need to get out of that pack at the bottom. We've shown a lot of promise but it's now getting down and getting points on the board and grounding up until the last few games of the month."
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