Cape Town – Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane believes the pre-season clash with Kaizer Chiefs on July 21in the Shell Helix Ultra Cup will be valuable preparation for 2018/19.
Downs will play the Glamour Boys at the FNB Stadium with the encounter coming just four days after the Brazilians CAF Champions League Group C clash against AS Togo-Port in West Africa.
Meanwhile, the domestic season is scheduled to get underway in August when the MTN8 takes place in that month.
Nonetheless, Mosimane takes the view that the tie with Amakhosi will provide adequate preparation for the new campaign.
He told reporters: "I think the match will give us good momentum for the preparation of the other Champions League games in the group.
"And it also gives you nice preparation for the top eight. We like it and we will see how ready we are after playing this game.
"Above all, what it is important for Sundowns is to have official pre-season games that you know is a strong game, that players and everybody will be looking out to, unlike when you don't have nothing.
"Then you have to motivate players and play in games where there are no supporters, that does not look good.
"It is also good for our team to have a tournament with a team of the calibre of Chiefs. They have numbers, they are a big club. Our games against them are never easy, they are forever big games."