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Sundowns currently lead the standings with 12 points from five games, while Vasco are in 10th position.
‘Downs, however, go into this match having lost their most recent Absa Premiership encounter – a 2-1 reverse to Orlando Pirates.
For their part, Vasco go into the game having fought back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw against Black Aces.
But in their most recent matches – Telkom Knockout encounters – Vasco lost 1-0 to SuperSport while the Brazilians beat Platinum Stars by the same score-line.
Vasco coach Carlos das Neves can however point to the fact that his charges are unbeaten in their last three league encounters – any physiological boost he can depart on his players could be very important.
“We must go into the game believing we can compete with the best in the PSL. No team is unbeatable and in football attitude and application counts for a lot.
“It will be up to my players to go out onto the park and compete – to give a whole-hearted performance and then we can certainly come away with a positive result,” he said.
The Cape side can at least take heart from the fact that they were by no means overawed by another PSL giant in their opening Premiership match of the season – a game they lost 2-1 to Pirates.
But while Vasco can boast former Bafana Bafana strikers such as Sibusiso Zuma and Bradley August in attack, it’s in defence where they are likely to face the biggest tests.
This is where the likes of Francois Adams, his centre back partner Mokete Tsotestsi, Rudi Isaacs, Diketho Mototo and keeper Posnett Omony will have to be on top form to keep out the dangerous Brazilian attackers, including Katlego Mphela, Zimbabwean Nyasha Mushekwi, Mabuthi Khenyeza and Elias Pelembe, to name just a few.
Zimbwean midfielder and club captain Esrom Nyandoro, who forms a rock-solid central midfield partnership with the impressive Mathew Pattison, is aware that there can be no place for over-confidence in the PSL these days.
“Vasco may be new to the PSL as a club, but if you look at their squad, its full of good players who have lots of experience in the top flight.
“They have done fairly well in the league so far and we cannot afford to take them lightly.
“Knowing that we want to bounce back after losing our last league match, against Pirates, we need to go there and put in a hard-working, professional performance if we want the three points.
“It’s always tough to play in Cape Town and we know they will be highly motivated to face us, so we must be ready to battle hard for everything,” Nyandoro explained.
