Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker is expecting a tough Carling Knockout semi-final encounter against Richards Bay but has backed his side to emerge victorious.

Barker’s charges will travel to Kwa-Zulu Natal this weekend where they will take on Richards Bay at the King Zwelithini Stadium, with a spot in the final of the 2023 Carling Knockout competition on offer.

“Preparations are going well,” Barker said ahead of the encounter.

“We obviously had the mid-week match against Cape Town Spurs so it was just a matter of recuperating from that game and shifting our focus to what is a massive opportunity for us as a football club to reach a final.

“There are no injuries or suspensions so we have a full squad to select from, and the team is in a good space with some good recent results. I trust that the confidence and belief we’ve had in those performances can be taken through to Saturday.

“But, we also understand it’s never an easy match in a semi-final and that form goes out the window in cup games. I’m sure Richards Bay will want to turn their season around by getting into a final, so we have to accept and understand that it’s going to be tough, but at the same time we are confident that we can get ourselves into the final.”

Saturday’s clash will be Stellenbosch FC’s third semi-final of the 2023 calendar year, having previously reached the same stage in the MTN8 and last season’s Nedbank Cup, and the coach is hoping to draw from that experience against the Natal Rich Boyz.

“I think it’s important to take our lessons learned,” he added.

“The two previous semi-finals were losses, on penalties and then the away goals rule, so it was a difficult pill to swallow at the time. But I think those experiences will have given us the knowledge of how to approach a third semi-final in such a short space of time.

“That’s what happens in life. Sometimes you don’t overcome certain obstacles, but the important part is to learn from those experiences and make sure that the next opportunity you get, you take it with both hands.”

The semi-final between Stellenbosch FC and Richards Bay is scheduled to kick off at 15h00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL channel 202 and SABC Sport.