APRheld Liga Desportiva De Maputo to a goalless draw on Sunday in Maputo, a result that has laid a spring board for the club to advance to the Caf Champions League first round, if they win at home in two weeks’ time.

In-front of home support and on a familiar playing surface, the Rwandan league champions are expected to progress unscathed to the first round where they will meet Egyptian giants Al Ahly, who have won this competition a record eight times.

Interim coach Vincent Mashami believes his side will put up a good fight at home because they have now identified their opponents’ weaknesses.

Against a very physical side, APR will have a tough fight on their hands if they are to advance to the next round in a competition where they have not done so well in recent years.

The 14-time local league champions will rely on creative midfielders like Jean Claude Iranzi, Andrew Buteera and Yannick Mukunzi to try and dominate their Mozambique opponents, who will be out looking for an away goal.

Conceding at home is a nightmare, the military side wants to avoid and the central defensive duo of Emery Bayisenge and Ismael Nshutiyamagara has made it top priority to implement this objective.

Mashami’s side is expected to once again line-up two strikers upfront – the youthful Issa Bigirimana and Michel Ndahinduka whose partnership is a combination of agility and good forward runs.

In the absence of number one choice, goalkeeper Jean Claude Ndoli, youngster Olivier Kwizera has been spectacular and according to goalkeeping coach Ibrahim Mugisha, the young custodian will play a key role in keeping APR’s run in the continental competition going.