SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt admits he would love to have an extra week to prepare his team for their MTN8 quarter-final clash with Orlando Pirates.
Matsatsantsa are away to the tournament holders at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Hunt’s side have been hard at work strengthening ahead of the start of the new season after ending last term in seventh – with a very young and inexperienced side – as Pirates secured second spot.
SuperSport suffered a first-round exit to Stellenbosch in this competition this time last year, as the Buccaneers went on to defeat Mamelodi Sundowns in the final in October.
Ahead of the weekend’s game, a realistic Hunt said it will take some time for his new team to gel.
The club’s recently confirmed signings include Pogiso Sanoka (TS Galaxy), Nyiko Mobbie (Sekhukhune United), Ricardo Goss (Loan – Mamelodi Sundowns) and Vincent Pule (Orlando Pirates).
Hunt said: “We could have done with another week.
“We have a lot of new guys in, seven or eight new starting players, but we have a lot of experience, more than last year. We were very inexperienced (last year), but we will still bring the younger players in, one or two could make their debuts (on Saturday) as well.
“You can be excited in the pre-season and fall flat on your face in your first game. So I am not excited and not down. We need a game or two and our first league game is only on September 17, that is miles away.
“I am sure we will put up a good show, we are big underdogs for sure.”