Mamelodi Sundowns could move top of the Betway Premiership with all three points away to Golden Arrows on Wednesday.
The Brazilians remain unbeaten after eight games but have dropped points in draws with Chippa United, Kaizer Chiefs, and Marumo Gallants.
They come into this game, however, on the back of a convincing 3-1 league win over Durban City on Saturday to sit just one point behind leaders Sekhukhune United, who are also unbeaten.
Arrows are, meanwhile, down in 11th place with seven points from their seven opening games. Manqoba Mngqithi’s charges have lost their last three matches, 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs, 2-1 to Polokwane City, and 1-0 to Sekhukhune.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Downs boss Miguel Cardoso has been forced to defend his impact since joining the club. Last term, the Portuguese mentor led the Brazilians to the final of the CAF Champions League, alongside their domestic league success, and an impressive showing at the Club World Cup.
He said on Times Live: “Sometimes people speak too much because of the high expectations they have and not because they relate to reality.
“It is important for people to relate to reality, and reality is numbers. I invite everyone to go and check the numbers of the team since we arrived here.
“Go and check if there was any time where anyone was dominant over Mamelodi Sundowns in capacity to create, control the game with the ball, and to have passes.
“Last year, this team made the fans probably feel as pleased as they have never been. We broke all the records. The only record we did not break was by conceding, and it was by one goal.”
“We want to build a team that makes fans proud, and we are going to do it, but this is not a spontaneous generation. It is hard work from everybody, and the fans should support the players all the time,” added Cardoso.
Former Downs boss Mngqithi, meanwhile, feels his team has been let down by poor officiating this season and even suggested certain clubs get preferential treatment.
He said on IOL: “The only sad thing is that sometimes when you look at these decisions of penalties and free-kicks and fouls in the PSL, I don’t think we are winning much without VAR. You can say whatever you want to say because without VAR, we are a little bit exposed.
“Decisions are taken, and you move on. Nobody talks, it’s Golden Arrows by the way, so nobody talks. But if it’s somebody else, maybe something happens, but the honest truth is, referees have been given this carte blanche way of doing what they want. Even if the decision is atrocious, it’s okay.”