The four-time Premier League-winning coach said he was especially cautious ahead of the clash with the Bucs at Orlando stadium, and also needed his players to put their recent string of bad results behind them.
"We have got five points out of our last three games," said Igesund. "I don't buy into Pirates going through a bad patch; we need to get out of a slump ourselves. We will try and make sure we at least get a point from Pirates."
Igesund said he was aware of the danger posed by Buccaneers' international players. He said Lucas Thwala in defence, as well as Katlego Mashego and Thembinkosi Fanteni up front could demolish his 11th-placed Maritzburg side if at their best.
Pirates beat Maritzburg 2-1 in their last encounter, which took place last season at Ellis Park.
But Igesund was quick to point out previous results do not count.
"We cannot talk about last season. It was a different time and there were different settings," he said.
Igesund, also a former Pirates coach, conceded that he could sympathise with Bucs coach Ruud Krol on losing a key player in skipper Benson Mhlongo.
"I had him [Mhlongo] while I was at Mamelodi Sundowns and he is a great leader and a very hard worker. They will miss him," he said.
But Igesund has injury worries of his own. Defender Byrone Hendricks and winger Felix Obada are doubtful for tonight's clash and Igesund could be forced to ring some changes.
The Buccaneers have failed to get a win from their past four games, including losing three games in a row. They began their PSL campaign on a high - unbeaten in their first nine games.
A win against Maritzburg will be a good omen for Krol and his men.
— Pirates' under-20 international Andile Jali has been named as the first candidate for rookie of the season. The Eastern Cape-born midfielder beat strong opponents in Amazulu's Phelelani Dlamini, Rudigor Gilbert (Black Aces), Bongani Theletsane (Cosmos) and Chiefs' goalkeeper, Thela Ngobeni.
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