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Cape Town - Cape Town City welcome Mamelodi Sundowns to Athlone Stadium on Friday night in an Absa Premiership clash that could prove influential in deciding the outcome of the race for the title.
Pitso Mosimane's expensively assembled team are in formidable form heading into Friday's clash, sitting in a healthy 5th position on the log with four games in hand, having gone undefeated in eight games.
City coach, Eric Tinkler's charges though will be confident heading into the game as they themselves have lit up the league and sit in second position, behind leaders SuperSport United only by goal difference.
Tinkler, speaking to the media ahead of the game said that a win over the much-fancied Masandawana, would mean that his side could then officially be considered as title contenders.
"It's a game where we want to collect three points, if we manage to win then in my mind we can consider ourselves to be potential league winners, that's the magnitude of the game," he said.
Friday will prove to be an important test for the newly-formed Cape based side and although City previously ran out as 2-1 winners against Sundowns, Tinkler said that they've since added astutely to their squad and are now a different side.
"They've pushed on and made a few good signings, that I personally think have been good signings. (Fares) Hachi has come in at left back and done well, I think he is a really good player from what I've seen and strengthened an area where I think they were a bit weak.
"That's where I think they had weaknesses in the past - in defence - but the players that have come in, Hachi and (Ricardo) Nascimento have done well and added value to the squad."
City who themselves posses one of the most dangerous attacks, consisting of Lehlohonolo Majoro, Lebogang Manyama and Aubrey Ngoma, will need to be at their best with Tinkler saying that they needed to also have the right mentality.
"We must approach the game mentally strong firstly, Sundowns have a very good squad with lots of depth. But are they beatable? Yes, and we'll have nothing to lose as we have no pressure on ourselves, all the pressure will be on them," added Tinkler.
"We need to go out there and play the football we know we are capable of playing and enjoy the occasion."
Kick off is at 20:00.
