While the Citizens struggled under Eric Tinkler this season, the Buccaneers have pushed themselves to a new level under Jose Riveiro over the past few campaigns.
The Spaniard has led Pirates to successive second place league finishes, behind perennial winners Mamelodi Sundowns, alongside scooping a number of domestic cup trophies.
While the CAF Champions League has been a tougher road for Bucs in recent seasons, this term Riveiro’s side are also impressing in Africa where they currently sit in top spot in Group C and on course to qualify for the knockout rounds.
City next face Bucs at the Cape Town Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday, with Ertugral having engineered a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in his first game in temporary charge.
Ahead of the game, the former Amakhosi and Bucs boss told Radio 2000: “Pirates are a team at the moment that I really admire. The coach (Riveiro) is doing an unbelievable job.
“I know how difficult it is. We have been analysing them (Pirates) In the last couple of days and they are one of the best teams on the continent, not only in South Africa.
“So they will be a tough nut to crack. It is not easy to play Chiefs, and Pirates immediately after.
“We are a young team and we can only learn and we will learn (from playing Pirates).
“We will try to play in certain ways and (we) could be successful. Why not?”