Giant killers Dondol Stars have had a brilliant Nedbank Cup campaign so far defeating SuperSport United and AmaZulu in the last 32 and last 16 of the tournament respectively.

McCarthy who congratulated the side for how far they have come in the Nedbank Cup was also quick to state Dondol Stars should not get too excited and carried away heading into the Pirates encounter.

"Firstly congratulations to the side, they have done well so far and now it's all about keeping the same momentum heading into the clash against Pirates, Dondol should go there as underdogs and play their normal game as they have been doing to reach this stage of the tournament," McCarthy said.

With the national playoffs also still very much alive for the Mamelodi-based side to gain promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, McCarthy reiterated the importance of the team to keep on believing in the way they play and maybe they might just continue to shock everyone in the football fraternity.

Just like Baroka CF and TS Galaxy, Dondol Stars have defied the footballing odds this season in the Nedbank Cup and a whopping R400 000 will be handed to the side for reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament and McCarthy believes this will be a good injection into the team.

"It's obviously a good financial injection to the side and I am happy it comes at such a time like this when the season is being wrapped up because this will be a good way to start off the new season with some financial stability," McCarthy added.

On the contrast Pirates will now meet a third consecutive lower league team in the Nedbank Cup having defeated All Stars FC and Venda Football Academy in the last 32 and last 16 respectively.

Jose Riviero's side will look to advance to the last 4 by comfortably defeating Dondol and they will have to do that without underestimating their opponents because a lower league team is always very tricky to face.

Meanwhile Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs were drawn against Royal AM in the last 8 of the Nedbank Cup on Monday night with the two sides having already met in the DSTV Premiership respectively.

Chiefs advanced to the last 8 with a 2-1 victory that coach Arthur Zwane would like to forget instantly while Royal AM despite finishing the match with 10 men defeated Golden Arrows 3-1 in the last 16.

Ahead of the much anticipated clash, McCarthy said, "Kaizer Chiefs will beat Royal AM to advance to the semi-finals because I believe they are more hungry to put their hands on the silverware and end the 8 year trophy drought, so I see Amakhosi defeating Royal AM and potentially going all the way to clinch the title."

With the venue yet to be confirmed, McCarthy believes if the encounter gets to be played in Johannesburg at the FNB Stadium, the Glamour Boys will have the much needed support and even if the encounter goes to Durban, the Amakhosi faithful will also come out in numbers behind the men in gold and black.

In another exciting encounter Stellenbosch FC will play against Mamelodi Sundowns who are chasing a league treble.

Sundowns empathically destroyed Al Ahly over the past weekend to cement their spot in the CAF Champions League last 8 and with one hand already on the DSTV Premiership title, Rhulani Mokwena's charges will look to complete the season with the Nedbank Cup.

Against a stagnant Stellies side who managed to hold the defending DSTV Premiership champions to a 1-1 draw the last time the two teams met, it surely promises to be a mouth-watering clash.

In the last quarter-final fixture, Chippa United will play Sekhukhune United.

Speaking about the importance of the Nedbank Cup especially for the lower league teams, McCarthy was disappointed that not even a single Motsepe Foundation Championship side was through to the last 8 of the competition however, the former Bafana Bafana international is happy the Nedbank Cup gives the smaller teams in the country a platform to showcase their talent.