Chiefs made it through to the last eight of the competition after dispatching ABC Motsepe League outfit The Magic FC last weekend and are joined by only five other top-flight teams.
With the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates having already been knocked out by the likes of Chippa United and Black Leopards, who subsequently fell to Bidvest Wits on Monday night, many would see reason to believe Chiefs are destined to go all the way.
However, while admitting they are well poised for glory, Cardoso has warned against getting carried away by their run thus far and remains wary of two more threats on their charge for the FA cup crown.
“It’s a big chance for us to win the Nedbank. It’s difficult, but we’ve got to take it one game at a time and we can’t think of the final already,” said Cardoso.
“We’ve still got quarter-finals, semi-finals and then the final, so we’ve got to take it game-by-game, we can’t just leap forward into time and start thinking of the final.
“It does of course help [to have the big guns out early]. I think the only other big teams are Wits and Cape Town City, who have also won a few trophies in recent seasons, so it’s still a difficult journey.”
The other remaining contenders are Bloemfontein Celtic, Golden Arrows, Chippa United as well as First Division outfits TS Galaxy and Cape Umoya United (formerly Platinum Stars).
Amakhosi will learn their quarterfinal opponents when the PSL conduct the draw on Thursday evening.