Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker says his side is ready for the challenge of Golden Arrows after returning from their continental challenge in Equatorial Guinea.

Stellies are set to host Arrows at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Wednesday when the Club returns to domestic football following a weekend away competing in the CAF Confederation Cup.

The Maroons returned to South Africa on Monday afternoon after recording a hard-fought 0-0 draw away to 15 de Agosto de Akonibe in their 2nd Preliminary Round 1st leg encounter.

Read | Ticket & fixture information for Golden Arrows encounter

That result saw Barker’s troops extend their unbeaten run to four matches across all competitions, having kept four consecutive clean sheets, which Barker believes can spark a revival after an otherwise challenging start to the season.

“It has been a tough start to the season, but I believe there are definite signs that we are on an upward curve,” Barker said ahead of Wednesday’s clash.

“We have not been conceding many goals of late, but we need to score more than we have been, so a lot of hard work has been going into that to rectify that.

“We’ve got to remain positive and ensure that we get a positive result against Golden Arrows to help turn things around, and preparations have been going well to that end.

“We’ve obviously just got back from a long trip to Equatorial Guinea, but the players are upbeat, determined, and committed to getting a good result against Arrows, who we’ve enjoyed good results against in the last couple of years.”

Stellenbosch FC have won five and drawn five of their 12 matches against Arrows, including a 3-0 win in the most recent meeting, but Barker insists his charges will not be taking anything for granted against Abafana Bes’thende.

“This is a new game and a new challenge, though. They’ve made a decent start to the season, and they’ve got some good players in their team, so like any Premiership match, this won’t be easy.

“We’ve got to put all our preparation into effect and deliver with the necessary intensity and commitment to ensure we give ourselves the best chance.”

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The Betway Premiership encounter between Stellenbosch FC and Golden Arrows is scheduled to kick off at 19h30 at Athlone Stadium, and will be streamed live on SuperSport OTT6.

Stellies supporters hoping to attend the match can purchase their tickets from Webtickets and Pick n Pay outlets for R40.00 a ticket.