The Mauritian side held the Betway Premiership champions to a goalless draw in their First qualifying round first leg held at the Cote-d’Or National Sports Complex on Sunday.
While Pirates won a domestic treble last season, they were eliminated from the CAF Champions League by DR Congo side St Eloi Lupopo in the final qualifying round.
The two sides resume hostilities at the Amstel Orlando Area on Saturday and Thomas has warned his side to expect an onslaught frmo the Buccaneers.
“We know the calibre of Orlando Pirates, who are on another level. You can’t compare the two teams. They are professionals, and we are an amateur team,” said Thomas on Lemauricien.
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“I know it will be a very tough match. Orlando Pirates have had their pride wounded and will come out looking to hurt us in front of their home crowd. As for us, we need to keep possession well when we have the ball and be clinical in front of goal,” he added on Le Defi Sport.
“It’s football, and anything can happen. We realise it will be extremely difficult. We are up against an African giant playing on home turf, in a stadium that holds thousands of fans.”
The winner of this fixture will face the winner of the clash between Gabon’s Mangasport and Namibia’s African Stars.