CPL champion Cavalry FC ready for CONCACAF Champions Cup challenge in Mexico's Pumas

Cavalry FC coach and general manager Tommy Wheeldon Jr. concedes the Canadian Premier League champions will have to punch above their weight against Mexico's Pumas UNAM in CONCACAF Champions Cup play Thursday.

But he has faith his players can step up at Starlight Stadium.

"We've got to be mentally prepared. We've got to be tactically prepared," Wheeldon said. "And I think the boys are in a really good mindset to take on the Pumas."

While the opening leg of the first-round series was shifted to Vancouver Island to escape wintry conditions in Alberta for the second year in a row, Mother Nature has not co-operated.

There were some eight to 10 centimetres of snow on the ground Wednesday, with a temperature of –1 C. The forecast for Thursday evening is clear and –3 C.

"We asked the good people of Langford to help make us feel at home," joked Wheeldon. "And that they've done. They've packed the snowbanks and it does feel like home."

The return leg is Feb. 13 at Mexico City's Estadio Olimpico Universitario with the series winner moving on to face Costa Rica's Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in the round of 16.

The Calgary-based side lost to Major League Soccer's Orlando City at last year's tournament.

Pumas have won the Champions Cup three times (1980, '82 and '89) and finished runner-up twice (2005 and '22). The Mexican side made it to the quarterfinals last year before losing a penalty shootout to the eventual runner-up Columbus Crew.

Pumas currently sit seventh in the Liga MX Clausura at 2-1-2 after finishing fourth in the Apertura at 9-4-4.

"Listen, they're a terrific side. Very well organized," said Wheeldon. "We know that they're going to be a tough opponent. So we have to be at the best we are in the situation we're in. The