Pirates, who only had two players away during the international break, face Dikwena at FNB Stadium and Micho is hoping the struggling North West outfit will give them the challenge they need to be ready for what will be tough matches against Amakhosi and the Brazilians. They play Chiefs on October 21 and Sundowns on November 1.
Pirates have won three of their seven league matches thus far and are eager to get back to winning ways after they played to a 2-2 draw with Polokwane City prior to the FIFA recess, while they suffered their first defeat to Bidvest Wits in the encounter before that.
“The Platinum Stars match is the best possible test we can get before the next two games which are following against Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns. We are hoping for a good result [against Stars],” Sredojevic says.
“Except for [Justin] Shonga and Wayne Sandilands, the rest of the players have been with us during the FIFA break and we have worked very hard to keep up and upgrade what we have succeeded to do, and to correct what was wrong. We are happy that we don’t have many injuries.”
It has not been the smoothest of starts to the season for Pirates, as they look to recover from last term's horror campaign, but 'Micho' believes they are heading in the right direction.
“We are looking to keep the highest level of physical fitness, despite the FIFA breaks which usually kills the pace in which you are going. But at the same moment it is helping us to recuperate and regenerate and bring oursleves to the best possible shape before we continue in the league.
“I believe we are going in the right direction and we are working hard from all the aspects, from the management, the players, technical staff and supporters who are supporting us.”