Both sides have their eyes on the Confederation Cup

Al Merreikh hope to confirm the rise of Sudan as a football power by lifting this year's Confederation Cup.

But the 'Red Devils' of Omdurman face a formidable obstacle in the shape of CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, runners-up last year in the tougher Champions League.

The two sides clash in steamy Omdurman on Saturday with the return match on 24 November in Sfax.

Playing possibly their last match under Cameroon-bound German coach Otto Pfister, Merreikh know they must build a commanding lead given their poor away form in the competition.

They have played away 12 times during the four editions of the Confederation Cup and the best they managed was draws this year against Young Africans of Tanzania and Ismailia of Egypt.

However, they boast a perfect home record of 12 victories, including the 6-1 humiliation of 2005 runners-up Dolphin of Nigeria this year in the pool phase.

Such a wide margin is unlikely against Sfaxien as Merreikh seek to build on the performances of the national team and domestic rivals Al-Hilal during a year when Sudan ditched their 'whipping boys' tag.

Sudan ended decades of underachievement by reaching the African Nations Cup finals for the first time since 1976 while Al Hilal qualified for the Champions League semi-finals against all expectations.

Like Al Hilal, Merreikh have mixed local and foreign talent to build a squad capable of matching the best in Africa as they topped a mini-league including two clubs from Nigeria and one from Egypt.

Nigerian Endurance Idahor is the leading Confederation Cup scorer with six goals while playmaker Faisal Agab struck four and striker Haytham Tambal three during a 12-match route to the final.

Mid-year signing Paulo 'Paulinho' Roberto from Brazil may have claimed only two goals, but his late free-kick earned a draw at Ismailia of Egypt in the first round of group action.

Experienced Zambian midfielder Elijah Tana was another mid-year recruit and there is also an international flavour in defence with Jean-Paul Abalo of Togo and Boubacar Kone of Mali.

For their part, Sfaxien are desperate to erase memories of a heartbreaking loss to Egyptian giants Ahly in last year's Champions League final.

But they travel to Sudan without injured defender Chadi Hammami and striker Frej Bnouni.