Manqoba Mngqithi wary of Durban City test in Nedbank Cup

Arrows have gone deep in the competition before, reaching the semifinals in 2017 and again in 2019, and they are aiming to push even further this season. 

However, the Citizens stand between Abafana Bes’thende and a place in the last four, and Mngqithi admits overcoming the in-form side will require a strong performance. 

"I think it's going to be a very tough and interesting match for the spectators because both teams have some exciting players that I'm sure will give their best – it's a derby," said Mngqithi.

"Everybody is so keen to be going through to the semifinal, and the opponents have done quite well from the time of Gavin, I think they've done well.

"Themba Badela also, they did very well, and I think Pitso [Dladla] is also doing tremendous work with that team."

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The former Mamelodi Sundowns mentor also brushed aside the idea that the tournament has become easier following the elimination of the traditional powerhouses and insists Arrows still need a complete performance if they want to progress further. 

"Any cup competition is always up for grabs – I never look at it from a perspective of the big ones [teams] are there or not because sometimes the big ones are the ones that are even easier and less stressful compared to what people think you are entitled to," he added.

"Because the teams that are taken for granted, usually that's where you have to put a lot of thorough planning in making sure that you overcome them.

"But with the bigger and more illustrious opponents, you know there's an element of intrinsic motivation from the players, and you don't have to motivate that much for them to deliver an A-game."