Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker has challenged his side to overcome Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday.
The Cape Winelands club are on a high following their 2-0 CAF Confederation Cup victory over Lunda Sol on Sunday.
The result left Stellies in second place in Group B and in a healthy position to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Before two successive continental ties, with Stade Malien and RSB Berkane, Barker’s side travel to the FNB Stadium to take on an Amakhosi side that most recently suffered a 1-0 loss to Muhsin Ertugral’s Cape Town City.
Barker said in the Sowetan: “Chiefs is not Lunda Sul. It’s a different challenge but we have to go into the game with an element of confidence and belief.
“We only play one league game this whole January and that’s on Wednesday [they also play against AmaZulu away on January 21], so it’s important to maximise and get maximum points if we can.
“It [Sunday’s win over Sul] gives us hope, it gives us also belief. We are match fit and we will be ready to put in a big performance on Sunday [against Malien].”
While Chiefs are in seventh place on the league standings with 15 points, Stellies are in fifth place with 16 points.
Barker added: “It’s exciting for us to be battling on different fronts. We may not have the experience of other teams doing that but we are learning quickly and the players are enjoying the ride, enjoying playing in a different competition of this nature [the Confed Cup].
“Whoever is given the opportunity is giving 100% and that’s all I can ask for.”