Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has called on his side to deliver their best performance of the season to overcome DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns this weekend.

In a battle between the first and second-placed teams on the log, Stellenbosch FC are set to welcome newly-crowned 2023/24 DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns to Athlone Stadium on Saturday for the club’s penultimate match of the season.

The encounter carries additional significance for both teams as Stellies remain in contention for CAF Champions League qualification, while Sundowns are on course to become the first team to finish a domestic season unbeaten.

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“We look forward to hosting Mamelodi Sundowns again,” Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker said ahead of the match.

“They are a very tough opponent as their unbeaten league record of 51 games proves so it’s going to be a massive challenge for us, but it is a challenge that we are relishing as we want to test ourselves against the best.

“We take confidence from our previous performance against them in the Nedbank Cup [earlier this month] where it was a game of fine margins and one where we could have achieved a different outcome.

“We desperately want to finish second on the log table and we know that we will most likely need maximum points from our next two games to achieve that, so we have to put in our best performance of the season against Sundowns, which I believe will give us an opportunity to get the result we need.”

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Saturday’s fixture has been moved from Stellies’ traditional home at Danie Craven Stadium to Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, but the coach is hoping the Maroon Army will still come out in their numbers to support the club in their final home match of the campaign.

“I’d like to thank the fans for their support throughout the season. The way they have got behind the team has been incredible and the supporter base is growing week in and week out,” he added.

“We can’t thank them enough for being the 12th man that keeps on pushing us to get over the line in matches, and we hope and trust that they will come out in their numbers again to Athlone to support us in our last home match of the season.”