Bucs boss JZ doesn't scare Hunt

Playing an Orlando Pirates side that's been in top form since the arrival of German coach Josef "JZ" Zinnbauer in December may scare even tough, battle-scarred characters such as Gavin Hunt.

But Hunt has no sleepless nights about meeting an old foe in Pirates today.

The Bidvest Wits coach, who has already brought three pieces of silverware to the Clever Boys since joining them in 2013, is wise enough to know any result is possible in a cup tie.

Having won every trophy - four league titles and four cup competitions - since starting out as a professional coach with Seven Stars in 1995, you sort of understand Hunt's calmness ahead of his team meeting Pirates in the first round of the Nedbank Cup at the Orlando Stadium today.

"I don't know ... I don't know, it's the furthest thing in my mind at the moment," said Hunt of their clash against Bucs a few minutes after Wits' Absa Premiership game against Black Leopards was called off on Thursday night due to lightning.

Hunt heaved a huge sigh of relief when the match officials called off the Leopards clash as it would have been played just over 24 hours before the tough Bucs tie with injuries and fatigue occurring.

What's not in doubt is that Bucs and Zinnbauer will face the sternest of tests in Wits - the two-time winners (1978 and 2010) of this competition this afternoon.

It's a trophy that's eluded Hunt in the past seven years after winning it as the second in his career with SuperSport United.

It won't escape Hunt, though, that the Soweto giants were the team that denied him and Wits when they won the 2014 Nedbank Cup.

Mhango scored goals here, he won trophies here. We won lots of trophies here with him

—  Gavin Hunt - Bidvest Wits coach

However, Wits got their revenge in 2016 when they beat Bucs in the MTN8 en route to beating Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 in the final.

But today's game is a different proposition altogether and the Wits coach knows that.

"It doesn't surprise me," said Hunt of Pirates' resurgence in the second round of the 2019-20 season.

"They have quality players, they've done very, very well. So it doesn't surprise me. Not at all. You need no rocket science."

Gabadinho Mhango's form is another factor that doesn't puzzle Hunt.

"Mhango scored goals here, he won trophies here. We won lots of trophies here with him," said Hunt of the former Wits striker who misses today's game due to suspension.

"I'm not even concerned about that, it doesn't bother me," said Hunt of Mhango's suspension. "They've got more than enough players in that position, so yaah, it is what it is."

Wits have already beaten Bucs this season in a seven-goal thriller in Durban and Hunt expects the same today. "They're a totally different team now, it will be another epic battle," said the 55-year-old coach.