Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has announced that he plans to rest several key players for the Nedbank Cup last-16 match against Mpheni Home Defenders.
The Betway Premiership leaders take on the ABC Motsepe League side at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.
While the Brazilians overcame Sibanye Golden Stars 5-2 in the round as 32, Home Defenders saw off Motsepe Championship Foundation side Hungry Lions 3-1.
As they are currently competing for the South African top-flight as well as the CAF Champions League, Cardoso will use this game to play the fringe members of his squad.
The Downs boss said in the Citizen: “We have to fight to get a good result but most of all, we need to understand the moment. The moment is for us to provide opportunities for players that haven’t played and rest the ones that are really tired and need to recover.
“We also need to perform at the highest level in order to get the result so our focus is to first get the result and go further in the competition. Second one, it’s to build a team that is as strong as possible. We should also analyse the players that can cope with the situation in order to play this match and also look further ahead to what we have coming.”
“They’re a team that comes with an ambition and a dream but it’s our job not to allow that dream to become a true goal. We need to focus on what we have to do in the match and face it in a more serious way,” added Cardoso.