Pirates prepare to host holders Ahli next Saturday in the first leg, with Jali looking confident that his side could rise to the challenge of the African giants.

“Look, we know those guys very well – that is good for us because we will not be stressing or guessing how they play and everything else,” South Africa international Jali told the club’s website.

“We will of course respect them because they won this Championship seven times – we will not fear them anymore like before whenever we heard a name Al Ahly, we would try to study them etc.

“I am glad we are playing against them – another opponent would be tougher for us because we had to study them and be careful…

“We will have to go all out and play to win the game – they are a good side but I just think we have what it takes to beat them.

“We respect them but we do not fear them – I could have not asked for a better opponent to play this final. They play good football and this is what we like as a team.”

Jali, 23, scored from the spot for Pirates when they stunned Ahli in a record 3-0 group-stage home defeat back in August.