Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana expects his former club, the Black Leopards, to give the Brazilians a run for their money on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old skipper made his official debut in the top-flight 15 years ago with Lidoda Duvha, and went on to play for SuperSport United, Bloemfontein Celtic and Sundowns.

Since then, Kekana has managed to rack up a total of 373 appearances in all competitions, while creating 19 goals and scoring 33 in the process.

Kekana says he’ll put his emotions aside when he takes on the club that gave him his big break in football.

‘Leopards did a lot for me in my career and I was so young when I was there, but I was full of hunger, and as we know, players there play like they are very hungry,’ Kekana told the media.

‘It’s where I laid my foundation as a player. Here I am now after all these years, but the club will always be close to me. Leopards will never go down without a fight, that’s what we expect from them.’

The Sundowns skipper added that he is impressed how quick Emiliano Tade has adjusted to the club after joining the club on the final day of the January transfer window.

‘At Sundowns you know as a player that the player behind you is just as good and can take your place in the team,’ he added.

‘Tade has come in and has done well to score on debut. It’s not easy to come to the club and adjust immediately.’

Mamelodi Sundowns will welcome Black Leopards to Loftus Versfeld Stadium when the two sides meet in the Absa Premiership on Wednesday.