Simba will be aiming to build on their lead atop 2020-21 Caf Champions League Group A when they host Al Merrikh at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
The Tanzanian giants sit three points clear of both AS Vita Club and defending champions Al Ahly, following two wins and a draw from their allotted fixtures.
Simba were held to a 0-0 draw by Al Merrikh in Omdurman earlier this month, but will be firm favourites on home soil.
The Reds of Msimbazi are undefeated in 10 matches across all competitions, but Simba head coach Didier Gomes da Rosa wasn't ready to write off his former employers.
“To be honest, we did not develop our usual way of playing, we were a little bit - not disappointing - but we missed the energy, we missed dynamic passes, we played on a slow tempo. Sometimes it happens but don’t forget that we were playing away,” Gomes told reporters as reported by Simba Online following their draw in Sudan.
“For the next match against Al Merrikh you know very well that at home we are very good, we can put the 'fire' on the ground, but we have to prepare very seriously for the match because the next three points could put us in the quarterfinals.
"I cannot underrate this team [Al Merrikh], these kind of players, I know their mentality very well well. I spent the first two rounds of the Champions League with them and I know that they are able to be very committed," Gomes, who led the Sudanese giants into the group stages, added.
Al Merrikh have undergone another coaching change and made the trip to Tanzania having fired head coach Nasreddine Nabi and his assistants, Hamadi Sagheer and El Dao Gadamelkhair.
Former professional footballer Lee Clark was named as Nabi's successor at the Red Devils and he will be hoping to lead them to their first win in the group stages of this season's competition.
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