Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi admits it will not be easy to beat Golden Arrows when the two sides meet in the opening round of the Carling Knockout Cup.

The Brazilians are set to welcome Arrows to the Lucas Moripe Stadium in the round of 16 on Saturday evening.

Sundowns come into this fixture off the back of a 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium when they met in the Betway Premiership.

Arrows, meanwhile, suffered a 2-0 defeat in the last match at the hands of Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in the Betway Premiership.

Mngqithi has warned his side of the threat Arrows possess and urged them not to take the game lightly.

“It’s not going to be an easy match. When we played them in the final stages of last season to a goalless draw in Durban, they were very dangerous,” Mngqithi said as per SuperSport.

“They are a team that has influential players who are always looking to create possibilities for them.

“It’s a complex game but more than the flamboyance that you think will be there, I see a lot of transitions.

“We will need to contain the situation better, probably with better counter-pressures and rest defence with better organisation behind the ball. If we achieve that, I think we will do well.”

Kick-off has been set for 6pm.