The two sides lock horns at the Lucas Moripe Stadium with a semi-final spot up for grabs in the season's first silverware.

Speaking at the MTN 8 launch on Thursday afternoon, Komphela admitted that he has the understanding of how Sundowns plays having been part of their technical team last season.

"Currently there is a slight tweak in how Sundowns plays this season however, it is not far away from the principles that have been planted since the previous season and again, they are people that are very much used to the system, they are very old in the system and they have the belief," Komphela said.

Komphela, who had joined Sundowns as a senior coach in 2020 and unexpectedly left the Tshwane giants for Swallows before the commencement of the 2023/24 season also said the encounter will rather be an emotional one as he will be up against Sundowns for the first time since his departure.

"Facing Sundowns for the first time since leaving the club may be emotional but we are professionals, we have to go on with our business because our project still needs to hit a positive note and we are facing a very good Mamelodi Sundowns team so we just have to prepare ourselves, looking at what we want to achieve in the project we are building, putting it up against Sundowns," Komphela added.

Immediately after the clash, Orlando Pirates will take on Sekhukhune United in the second quarter-final of the tournament at the Orlando Stadium.