The Nedbank Cup last 32 tie at Loftus Versfeld Stadium could provide a shock result with Richards Bay failing to be intimidated by the colossal task of standing up to the formidable Mamelodi Sundowns.
For all the incredible run of results that Sundowns have recorded in the league with 15 wins in a row it was in another knockout competition that they last tasted defeat when they were hammered by Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-finals.
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Richards Bay – impressive this season – are feeling calm and confident.
"We respect them but we're not afraid of them because it is 11 versus 11," insists co-coach Vasili Manousakis.
Fair enough, but how will they go about it?
"The best way to stop them is try and to go at them.
"I think they are a little bit vulnerable on the counterattack.
"I'm stating the obvious and that is because they commit numbers forward.
"They play a 4-1-3-2 with the two strikers and three tucked in behind so that is already five offensively and leave the defensive midfielder on his own and when they attack the fullbacks join.
"That means they attack you with seven and if you defend with five, they attack you with six.
"It is very well structured, so they play with a lot of risks because they believe in themselves.
"If you find the right moments they can also be unbalanced, and you can expose them.
"Once you bypass that first press you will be surprised at some of the space that is available.
"I know that it might sound hard to believe if you look at the number of goals, they have conceded it tells you another story.
"But that just tells you of how difficult it is to break down these guys.
"We are playing away from home so we can't play like them," says Manousakis while pointing out that they are aiming for consistency for the rest of the season.
"If we can keep the same consistency or be fairly close to what we did in the first round then I think we are going to be okay in the end," he adds.
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