The Brazilians played their first match in roughly five months when they beat Wits 3-2 in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday night.

With Pirates yet to play a match since the resumption of the PSL, Mosimane says the experience they gained during the victory against the Students will serve them well.

“Football within Covid-19, we know it now, we can comment. If you haven’t played it yet, you can’t talk’, said the Downs boss.

“If you have suffered a massive injury like Mkhulise who didn’t finish and Rivaldo Coetzee who is on the edge.

“You don’t understand that you can even substitute important players like Themba Zwane and Vilakazi.

“In the first 15 minutes of the semi-final, Celtic had a player pulling a hamstring. Ask Dylan Kerr about his team he saw during the match. It’s not the same team, things are just not the same.

“No one knows and you can’t comment until you’ve been in it.

“Only four teams can talk about football within Covid-19. It’s the teams that played in the semi-finals.

“It is tough and it’s a difficult space to be in. Yes, we have a little of information ahead of Orlando Pirates.

“We can say we have a little bit of an advantage.”

A victory for Downs with their game in hand tonight will see them close the gap on the Premiership leaders Kaizer Chiefs to just one point.

Kick-off is at 18:00 at the Dobsonville Stadium.

- Mosibosi Whitehead