City have a date with Chiefs at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon, just a few weeks after they met in the league at Newlands Stadium, where Amakhosi came out victorious.
With an opportunity for revenge, McCarthy believes the current log leaders are certainly the most on-form team at the moment but insists they do not fear the Soweto giants.
“With the form that they’re in at the moment, Chiefs are the team to beat, but we take the positives from our last game against them, even though the scoreline didn’t favour us,” said McCarthy.
“I think the way we applied ourselves in that game, we’ve got nothing to fear. It’s great for the fans to come out because it will be two teams who go at each other, and I think our players have a lot to make right.
“So, I think the game comes at a good time to test ourselves, and it’s always special. Let’s hope we can go out there and put out a performance that people will appreciate – not only the good football but this time we don’t want to come out second best.”
Furthermore, McCarthy is unperturbed by having been dealt the toughest draw of the opening round, as he relishes the opportunity for a good turnout in stands.
“Since I’ve joined the club, when it comes to cup competitions, I’ve never had a draw where I could lick my lips and say, ‘Mmmm, we can build from this game,’” he added.
“It’s always been the tougher opponents, and I don’t see why this one is any different. It’s special, whether you get them [Chiefs] in the final or in the first round, you’re always going to have a turn out.
“I’m confident we can do something, and I think the players – from the couple of days I’ve seen them in training, everybody is relishing the challenge.”
