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Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana is confident they will be able to deal with whatever Esperance throws at them in the away leg.
The two sides face off again in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals at the Stade Hammadi Agrebi on Tuesday following Downs’ 1-0 victory at Loftus Stadium earlier this week.
Esperance coach Maher Kanzari has promised an open game as the North Africans try to go all out to overturn the deficit.
Kekana says the clash in Tshwane gave them an idea of what to expect next week.
"I think a huge confidence booster, we were able to see what they're about, what they wanted to come here with. They wanted to be on a transition, they were cheating a lot upfront but I think we managed to deal with them well, hopefully we can build on this, especially going to Tunisia," Kekana said.
Sundowns also have the Miguel Cardoso factor, with Kekana adding that their coach being a former Esperance mentor plays to their advantage.
"We know what to expect but we've also been in CAF for quite a number of years so we know about the hostility, but it's something that we won't focus on. We just wanna go that side, make sure that we're able to do the job, so we can make our supporters proud," he added.
Kekana also mentions the fact that Downs have a squad of international players used to the atmosphere in North Africa when on national team duty is another plus going into the second leg.
"It definitely helps, we've gained a lot of experience and we're open to all the challenges that we come across. So, it will be no different, they're gonna do what they can to make sure that they destabilise us, but we're strong enough, we're committed, there's a lot of brotherhood, so yeah,” he explained.
“They started pressing us high but we knew what to do, we had to just manage the game, make sure we don't concede because we obviously had the need and just make sure we come out with positive results."
