Amakhosi travel to the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium unbeaten in eight Betway Premiership matches this season, but their mixed record against Zambian opposition in continental competition serves as a warning ahead of the encounter.

The two sides have never met before, with Red Arrows seeking to reach the group stages of the competition for the first time. Chiefs, meanwhile, received a bye into this round as a seeded team.

Chiefs have faced Zambian clubs Nchanga Rangers and ZESCO United six times in African competition, recording two wins, one draw and three defeats, while scoring four goals and conceding seven.

Their first meeting with Zambian opposition came in the 2000 CAF Cup, when they lost 2-0 at home to Nchanga Rangers before drawing the return leg goalless.

They subsequently suffered a 5-2 aggregate defeat to ZESCO United in the 2018/19 Confederation Cup, losing 3-1 away and 2-1 at home.

However, Chiefs enjoyed greater success against ZESCO last season, winning both group-stage encounters 1-0, first in Zambia and then in Durban.

Red Arrows represent another challenge, having qualified for this campaign after defeating Madagascar's FC Rouge 4-0 on aggregate in the preliminary round. They then beat Power Dynamos 2-0 in the ABSA Cup final on October 11.

The Zambian outfit has won its last four competitive matches without conceding, including both legs against FC Rouge, the Charity Shield and the cup final. They also reached the group stages of last season's Confederation Cup, narrowly missing out on a quarter-final place.

Amakhosi arrive after a 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday. They sit fourth in the Premiership with 14 points from eight matches, having drawn four of their last five league fixtures.

Wandile Duba remains their leading league scorer with three goals, while Mduduzi Shabalala found the net against Stellenbosch to rescue a point.

Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz has several selection concerns, with midfielders Lebohang Maboe and Siphesihle Ndlovu sidelined by injuries. Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has also been left out of the travelling squad as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

Duba, Flavio Silva and Luke Baartman have returned to the squad and travelled to Zambia.

Saturday's encounter kicks off at 15:00, with the return leg scheduled for Durban a week later. The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to the Confederation Cup group stage.

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