City visit the Clever Boys in their Nedbank Cup Last 32 clash at the Bidvest Stadium on Wednesday evening, with kick-off scheduled for 19h30.
The sides have met three times already this season – once in the Absa Premiership and twice in the MTN8 two-legged semi-final – with the Citizens having dominated thus far.
McCarthy believes there is a rivalry brewing between the two clubs, but admits respect for his ex-coach, who gave him his big break as a player at Seven Stars back in 1995.
“I think there’s a nice respect between the two clubs, we have a good relationship and we work well with each other. There’s no bad blood,” said McCarthy.
“Whenever we face Wits it’s always a friendly rivalry, and obviously for me it’s always a learning curve when I come up against Gavin Hunt.
“Like I’ve said, and I will stress this over and over, he’s the guy who launched my career. He gave me the platform to achieve everything I have achieved in my football career.
“As a young kid, when many coaches never gave me an opportunity, he did. So, I’ll always be indebted to him.”
Still in his first season as a head coach, the Bafana Bafana legend and reigning top goal scorer is determined to gain Hunt’s respect by continuously beating him.
“As a start-up coach, when you come up against one of your mentors and people you respect, the only way for you to gain their respect is to try and beat them,” he added.
“So, that’s the aim, that’s the intention. Three down, two more to go [this season].”