The expanded group stage in the African Champions League gets under way this weekend as weary defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns host Saint George from Uganda in Group C on Saturday evening.
It is a 52nd match of a gruelling season for the South African club, who have begun to wilt of late under the burden of their schedule, most recently on Wednesday night when they looked spent in a 2-2 domestic league draw against minnows Baroka FC.
A growing injury list has not helped Pitso Mosimane's side, and the visit of the Ugandans to the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Tshwane will be another difficult test.
"The Saint George players are sitting in the stand, resting and watching us," Mosimane said after Wednesday's draw.
"It is not easy fighting on the South African and African fronts. We are playing every three days or so and injuries and suspensions can wreck plans."
Mosimane adds that any element of surprise they might have had in their run to lifting the trophy last year is gone.
"That advantage has gone. Rivals clubs know who we are now and watch us on TV. But we are more experienced than last year, have greater quality and depth in our squad, and know what Champions League football is all about."
Sundowns have been utterly dominant at home in matches in the continent's elite club competition and have never been beaten. Their 34 previous home games have resulted in 27 wins and seven draws.
The Brazilians will certainly be favourites and with top sides Esperance from Tunisia and DR Congo outfit AS Vita Club in their pool, a home win over Saint George is a must or they will be on the back foot in the pool immediately.
Vita Club travel to Esperance for their opener on Friday night looking to make amends for last year's debacle that saw them disqualified from the competition before the pool stages began having ousted Sundowns from the tournament the round before.
Vita Club were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in the earlier rounds and were sent packing, giving the South Africans a backdoor entry into the pool stages, where they went on to dominate.
The club coached by highly rated DR Congo national team boss Florent Ibenge will fancy their chances of going all the way this year and are a team to be feared.
Group A
There will be a mighty Sudanese clash between rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh in Omdurman in Group A on Friday, one of the great derbies in African football.
Al-Hilal have won the last two meetings, while Al-Merrikh have not claimed victory in any of their last 12 visits to their cross-town rivals. It is a fixture that tends to end in a draw though, with 11 of the last 24 clashes finishing in a stalemate.
Earlier in the evening, 2007 Champions League winners Etoile du Sahel host Mozambican side Ferroviario Beira, who are debutants at this stage of the competition. If the visitors can get anything from the clash in Sousse it will be some achievement.
Group B
Zimbabwean champions CAPS United have a tough start to their Group B campaign on Friday when they travel north to Egypt to meet last year's beaten finalists Zamalek in Alexandria.
That should be a home win, but the way CAPS battled their way past giants TP Mazambe in the last round, nothing can be taken for granted.
Algerian side USM Alger host Al-Ahli Tripoli from Libya in the other match in the pool on the same evening.
Group D
Egyptian side Al Ahly, the most successful in the history of the Champions League, host Zambian club Zanaco in what is an intriguing Group D clash that will also take place at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria.
Ahly won the last of their eight titles in 2013 and have looked less potent in recent years, but have the pedigree to go far in this year's competition.
The other match in the pool sees 2008 Champions League runners-up CotonSport from Cameroon travel to 1992 winners Wydad Casablanca on Sunday.
Regional Representation
Of the 16 sides who start the group stage, nine are from north Africa as that region continues to dominate, while southern Africa has a healthy four sides. The remaining three teams come from central Africa (two) and the lone representative from the east, Saint George.
The Champions League was expanded from an eight-team pool stage to 16 sides, with a quarterfinal round also added for this campaign. The top two sides in each group advance to the next round.