Last weekend, City achieved a significant milestone by qualifying for the group stages of the Confederation Cup, triumphing with a dominant 6-1 aggregate victory against AS Port Louis 2000 from Mauritius, highlighted by a convincing 3-0 away win in the second leg.

However, the intense travel schedule took a toll on the Durban team upon their return. Competing against Stellenbosch FC at Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday with limited recovery time, City faced a 2-0 setback, resulting in their elimination from the Carling Knockout.

On the same day, the CAF held the draw for the Confederation Cup group stage in Cairo, revealing a challenging continental schedule for Tinkler’s squad.

With three unavoidable transcontinental away matches on the horizon and a tough Betway Premiership encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns at Royal Bafokeng Stadium scheduled for Saturday, Tinkler recognized that balancing three competitions with a limited squad would have stretched his team’s capabilities to their limits.

As the fixture list grows, Tinkler is still hunting for his first league win of the season with the team.

“Honestly, in my genuine opinion, I want to compete at every level,” Tinkler expressed.

“It will be challenging until the Christmas break due to the numerous games we have. We must tackle six group stage matches in addition to our league commitments. Just think how taxing it would be if we were still in the Carling Cup too.

“The league is crucial for us. While it’s fantastic to be involved in CAF competitions, the league must take priority over everything else.”

Facing Sundowns presents a significant challenge. Historical encounters provide little solace, as the Durban side has struggled against the Brazilians in recent times. A notable moment from 2012 saw Delron Buckley score twice at Lucas Moripe Stadium during his tenure at Maritzburg United under Ernst Middendorp.

Moreover, Sundowns has an impressive home record in the league under coach Miguel Cardoso, remaining unbeaten at home since the latter part of the 2023/24 season.

Despite the considerable obstacles his team faces, Tinkler asserts that Durban City will not approach the Royal Bafokeng Stadium match in a defensive manner.

“The strategy is clear: we must go out there and earn points,” Tinkler emphasized.

“This philosophy has always guided me. I do not prepare my teams to simply sit back and wait to exploit counter-attacks. That remains true regardless of our opponent.

“The quality Sundowns brings to the pitch is exceptional, but we will go there to implement our style of play, compete, and strive for victory. I have experienced wins and losses against them, and the future may see both outcomes again, but I am confident we can triumph. I approach this match with that mindset.”