The Cape club have already beaten their Pretoria rivals three times this season – twice in the league, and on penalties in the MTN8 final – yet coach McCarthy says he is wary of their opponents who have welcomed back a number of key players in recent games.
“They’ve got Dean Furman back in, whose a solid, organised, born leader,” McCarthy said of Saturday’s opponents. “‘Yeye’ [Reneilwe Letsholonyane] comes back as well – Yeye never looks like he’s getting older. When he’s on the pitch he’s full of energy, he’s classy on the ball and does all the right things. Then they’ve got the young boy [Teboho] Mokoena who I rate very much – I think he’s a sensational player with a lot of good things in his game at such a tender age.
“You have to be solid, organised and disciplined to maintain their front three, and with their midfield, it always becomes difficult to boss and control the game. They’ve also now got [Bradley] Grobler back as well, so they have some big-hitters that are coming back, so it won’t be easy.”
Despite acknowledging the challenging task in front of them, McCarthy feels his side have the mental edge, and backs his men to record a fourth victory over Matsatsantsa this season.
“Over the last three games, we’ve come out smiling, so confidence-wise and psychologically, they have to worry more than us, and I’ve got full confidence in my team,” he said. “If our players give 150%, it will be pretty tough for them to beat us.”
Kick-off at Cape Town Stadium is set for 20h15.