The two sides face each other in the Nedbank last 32 at Orlando Stadium (15h00) with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Mhango, who has scored 15 goals in 19 matches in all competitions for the Buccaneers this season, will miss the clash as is serving a one-match suspension.
Hlanti is well known around the world for making Egypt and Liverpool leading forward Mohammed Salah literally cry tears after marking him out of the game at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
"No, it's not like that," Hlanti tells snl24.com/kickoff when asked if the Malawian's absence means less trouble for the Wits defence.
"In football the more there's challenges that are competitive, it makes the game of football more entertaining and exciting. You have to deal with pressure with a positive attitude. The mindset is always ready to do the task.
"This is not a one-man game, it always bodes with the team effort. Pirates with Mhango or without Mhango, they are playing good football, entertaining football you see, and they've been collecting points in the league.
"Those are the good signs that they've been doing well. And us as well, we know what it is that we need to do."
