The KwaZulu-Natal outfit has been drawn against the defending champions, who handed them a 2-0 defeat in their opening league fixture of the season. Pupuma, however, believes his players have grown in confidence and adapted to the demands of top-flight football since that meeting. He also expects to have a stronger squad available this time around, which he hopes will improve their chances of competing against the Buccaneers.

"Hopefully we've learned our lessons from the previous game, and fortunately for us, we will have a ripple effect. Already in the first game, we had a few players out, so we had to adjust a few things. I'm not saying it would have made a difference, but now we're going into this game full force. We have adjusted to the division, and I think we are in a better space than we were in the first game, so hopefully, we give them a run for their money," said Pupuma

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Milford are no strangers to making an impression in domestic cup competitions, having enjoyed a memorable Nedbank Cup campaign while competing in the Motsepe Foundation Championship last season.

The Stallions reached the semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history before their journey was ended by TS Galaxy. Pupuma acknowledges that cup fixtures require a different mindset compared to league encounters, but believes the experience gained from that impressive run will serve his players well as they prepare for another knockout challenge.

Milford have enjoyed a promising introduction to the Betway Premiership, establishing themselves among the early pace-setters despite being newcomers to the division.

The Stallions occupy fifth position on the standings after eight matches, having collected three victories, three draws and suffered just two defeats. Their positive approach and willingness to compete against established top-flight opposition have been key features of their campaign so far. With domestic action resuming after the FIFA international break, Pupuma insists his side will maintain the same playing philosophy that has brought them success in the opening stages of the season.

Pupuma admits the lengthy FIFA international break interrupted his team’s momentum, although the time away from competitive action has allowed several injured players to work their way back to fitness.

Milford return to league duty with a KwaZulu-Natal derby against Golden Arrows before turning their attention to their Carling Knockout assignment against Pirates. While the coach jokingly describes the international window as an extended interruption, he remains optimistic that his players can quickly rediscover their rhythm and build on the encouraging performances they produced before the break.

TIM SUKAZI

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