Mamelodi Sundowns will face a revamped Al Ahli side when the African and Asian champions collide in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup African-Asian-Pacific Cup at Loftus Versfeld on 19 September.
The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport at 3pm CAT.
The Saudi giants arrive in Pretoria chasing a first-ever global title after overcoming Auckland FC in the previous round, but the side that will take to the field against Sundowns looks markedly different from the one that fell to Egypt's Pyramids in last year's competition.
The biggest change has come in the technical area. After leading Al Ahli to successive AFC Champions League Elite crowns, Matthias Jaissle departed for Newcastle United, paving the way for Dutch-Croatian coach Marino Pusic to take charge. The former Feyenoord and Shakhtar Donetsk coach has inherited one of Asia's most ambitious projects and is already putting his stamp on the team.
There has also been significant movement in the squad with former Premier League star Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessie having moved on, while Matteo Dams and Enzo Millot are among the notable departures. Replacing players of that calibre was never going to be easy, but Al Ahli have acted decisively in the transfer market.
Francisco Trincão arrived from Sporting CP, Eduard Spertsyan joined from Krasnodar, while Artem Bondarenko and Ibrahima Diaby have strengthened the midfield. The newcomers have hit the ground running, with Trincão providing a new source of creativity and attacking thrust, while Spertsyan has quickly emerged as one of the team's key playmakers.
Alongside established stars Ivan Toney and Galeno, the new arrivals have helped maintain Al Ahli's status as one of the most dangerous attacking sides in Asian football.
For the first time in their Intercontinental Cup journey, however, Al Ahli will have to do it away from home. Their previous matches in the competition were played in Jeddah, but a trip to Pretoria presents a different challenge altogether. With a packed Loftus Versfeld expected to back Sundowns, the visitors will need to overcome both the opposition and a hostile atmosphere.
The clash promises to be one of the competition's standout encounters as Sundowns look to make home advantage count against an Al Ahli side eager to prove its new era can deliver success on the global stage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ivan Toney (Al Ahli)
The former England international is the focal point of Al Ahli's attack. Strong in the air, clinical in front of goal and capable of bringing others into play, Toney will be the man Sundowns' defence must keep quiet if they are to progress.
Francisco Trincão (Al Ahli)
The Portuguese winger has wasted little time making an impression in Saudi Arabia. Blessed with quick feet, creativity and an eye for goal, Trincão has become one of Al Ahli's main attacking weapons and could be pivotal on the counterattack.
Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
One of the best midfielders on the continent, Mokoena remains the heartbeat of the Sundowns engine room. His ability to dictate play, win second balls and threaten from set-pieces makes him vital to Miguel Cardoso's game plan.
Marcelo Allende (Mamelodi Sundowns)
The Chilean playmaker is central to Sundowns' possession-based approach. If afforded time and space, Allende has the quality to unlock defences and control the tempo of the match.
KEY BATTLE
Teboho Mokoena v Eduard Spertsyan
The midfield duel could ultimately decide the outcome. Sundowns will look to Mokoena to establish control, while Spertsyan's creativity and attacking instincts make him the chief architect of Al Ahli's attacking play. Whoever wins that battle may well give their side the upper hand.