Al-Merreikh hope to confirm the rise of Sudan as a football power by lifting the Confederation Cup.
But between the 'Red Devils' of Omdurman and the US$330,000 first prize lie formidable Tunisian foes CS Sfaxien, runners-up last year in the tougher Champions League.
The clubs boasting one Confederation of African Football (Caf) title each clash in steamy Omdurman Saturday with the return match on 24 November in Sfax on the Mediterranean coast.
Playing possibly their last match under Cameroon-bound German coach Otto Pfister, Merreikh know they must build a commanding lead given poor away form in the competition.
The 'Devils' 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 of a competition modelled on the European Uefa Cup.
Such a wide margin is unlikely against Sfaxien as Merreikh seek to build on the performances of the national team and arch domestic rivals Al-Hilal during a year when Sudan ditched their 'whipping boys' tag.
The east African state ended decades of underachievement by reaching the African Nations Cup tournament for the first time since 1976 while Hilal qualified for the Champions League semi-finals against all expectations.
Like 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 Merreikh 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.
Merreikh showed their fighting spirit in a warm-up match as 'Paulinho' and Abdelhamid al-Soudey scored to force a 2-2 draw after Moroccan visitors Raja Casablanca had taken a two-goal lead in an Arab Champions League match.
Sfaxien, who lifted the now defunct Caf Cup nine years ago, are desperate to erase memories of a heartbreaking loss to Egyptian giants Al-Ahly in the last Champions League final.
Having forced a shock 1-1 deadlock in Cairo, the Tunisians were drawing 0-0 and leading on the away-goal rule until Ahly star Mohamed Aboutraika scored two minutes into stoppage time.
Coach Mrad Mahjoub departed and replacement Michel Decastel of Switzerland has long made the Caf Cup his priority with striker Blaise 'Lelo' Mbele from the DR Congo a significant recent addition.
The Tunisians had an even unhappier build-up than Merreikh, slumping 3-2 at home to CA Bizerte in the national championship, a result that left 'Juventus' in mid-table after eight rounds.
And Sfaxien will lack injured defender Chadi Hammami and striker Frej Bnouni and suspended Guinean midfielder Naby Soumah for the first encounter at the 27,500-seat Al-Merreikh Stadium.
Merreikh are likely to have the edge at home, but expect Sfaxien to emerge victorious over two legs and emulate compatriots Etoile Sahel, who edged FAR Rabat of Morocco in the 2006 final.
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