JOHANNESBURG - South African champions SuperSport United have a mountain to climb when they tackle FUS de Rabat in the Moroccan capital on Sunday night in their African Confederations Cup third round, second leg clash.

United travelled to Morocco on Wednesday with a depleted squad of 13 players that included only one goalkeeper in third choice keeper Jacob Mokhasi.

United coach Gavin Hunt said that had he been able to field a full strength side he would have cruised into the group stages (quarterfinals) of the continent’s second biggest club tournament.

SuperSport lead 2-1 from the first leg played at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium two weeks ago.

“It is going be a tough ask for us in Rabat,” said Hunt.

“We do not know what to expect except a hostile crowd. But playing with half a side is not helping our cause.”

Hunt has been a strong critic of the way the ruling body, the Confederation of African Football, refuse to allow South African clubs to register players during the Premier Soccer League’s off-season. The problem is that all other African countries play their season during a calendar year while the PSL season runs from August to May.

“I have transferred a number of players, have injuries and have replaced players,” said Hunt.

“But I am not able to register the new players due to Caf’s inflexible registration rules. This means I have only 13 fit players and will be without a second goalkeeper against FUS on Sunday night.”

Mokhasi is the club’s third choice keeper. First choice keeper Emile Baron is still recovering from an injury sustained during Bafana Bafana’s training camp in Brazil in March.

Hunt sold his Ugandan keeper Denis Onyango to Mpumalanga Black Aces in the off-season and then signed Wayne Brown from English League Two outfit Bury.

Hunt also signed veteran former Bafana star Bradley Carnell who can play in defence or in midfield plus teenage striker Kermit Erasmus among others.

United star winger Daine Klate recently joined Orlando Pirates.

“The frustrating thing is that I am unable to use any new players,” said Hunt. “This would have been a good run out for my newcomers. Instead I have been forced to take a patched up side. All I can do is keep my fingers crossed.”

Adding to Hunt’s worries are injuries to striker Glen Salmon and his captain and central defensive kingpin Bongani Khumalo that have ruled both out of the clash.

“It does not get much worse. I am really down to the bare bones,” said Hunt.

– Sapa.