Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt is expecting a tough encounter when his side takes on Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

Stellenbosch have travelled to Pretoria this week, where they are set to take on reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns in a highly anticipated Betway Premiership encounter.

The Maroons head into the match on the back of a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Sekhukhune United last Friday and will need to be at their best against a side competing to be the best on the continent.

“It was important for us to win last week, especially coming into the Sundowns game,” Hunt said ahead of the encounter.

“They are, for me, certainly one of the top sides in Africa. We are under no illusions about what we face and what will be a very difficult task.

“They haven’t lost in about 52 games at Loftus and at home, so it won’t be easy. I’m looking forward to it, though, and we’ll go there with a good plan and see if it works.

“We can only play to our full ability, and we will need to do the right things at the right time, but that’s football.”

The team from the Winelands will be without the services of Asekho Tiwani and Kobamelo Kodisang, who are on loan at the Club from Sundowns, and the coach admits their absences are not ideal.

“Tiwani is a big blow because he’s been our left full-back and played the majority of the second round and been very good for us,” Hunt reflected.

“That’s a blow for us, but it is what it is. In football, all around the world, you control what you can and can’t do when players get loaned out.

“We just have to try to concentrate in his absence. Omega [Mdaka] will come in, and I’m sure he will do a good job for us.”

Stellies fans will, however, draw motivation from the fact that the team looks to have rediscovered their goalscoring form after netting in each of their last five matches.

“I don’t think there’s any secret; you just have to create chances,” he concluded.

“If you look at the stats and the data, we are No. 1 now with crosses into the box, where we were No. 12 before. That’s a good sign, and it shows we’re progressing in that side of the game.

“If you get the ball into the opposition box a bit more, you will have more chances to score, so it’s important for us to carry on with that, and hopefully something will fall for us.”

The Betway Premiership match between Stellenbosch FC and Mamelodi Sundowns is scheduled to kick off at 19h30 on Wednesday, 22 April. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL 202.