"Expect the worst". This is not what Mamelodi Sundowns would like to hear ahead of their CAF Champions League final, but Roger de Sa was just being honest when he said this.

As coach of Orlando Pirates in 2013, De Sa faced Al Ahly at home in a Champions League final first leg before travelling to Cairo to play the return leg.

Bucs were let down by the 1-1 result at home and a 2-0 away defeat in the second leg.

Sundowns are in the same situation, having to play against Al Ahly's rivals Zamalek at Lucas Moripe Stadium tomorrow (3pm) and then going to Cairo for the second leg next week.

"In the final, they [Egyptian clubs] jack themselves up. It's a different ball game. Sundowns must expect the worst [when they are in Cairo for the second leg]," said De Sa.

He added: "A trip to the stadium will take an hour longer than expected. When Sundowns go to Cairo, the stadium will be buzzing and there'll be lasers and so on. It will be full because the whole country gets behind them.

"Sundowns need to make sure that they do not concede at home, because that's one of the things that let us down. We were up against it when we played the second leg away from home, so Sundowns need to make sure they go to Cairo with a lead. They need to take their chances because you don't get many. We had a few chances and then one chance fell to [Mohamed] Aboutrika and he scored.

"But Sundowns have a good enough team to score at home and away."

The Ajax Cape Town coach has backed Sundowns to win the competition.