ES Setif coach Rachid Taoussi said on Wednesday the Algerian club have to be ready "physically and technically" on Tuesday when they face Ahly in the first leg of the African Champions League semi-finals, adding that he is aware his side will be under a huge pressure in Cairo.

Egyptian giants Ahly will be looking to secure a comfortable home advantage before meeting Setif in the second leg away from home on 23 October.

"Ahly is a great team," Rachid Taoussi told Algerian magazine El-Heddaf on Wednesday.

"They have many good players, especially in their frontline and I know that our mission will be tough in Cairo."

The Moroccan coach believes that playing the second leg in Algeria would be an advantage for his side but that they are now fully focused on the task ahead of them in the first leg.

"I know that my team will be under a huge pressure in Cairo and I prepared my team for this clash," he added.

"But playing the second leg at home would be a good advantage for the team."

Taoussi also said Setif would not be easy prey for their mighty opponents, who crushed Guinea's Horoya 4-0 in the quarter-final last week.

Ahly reached the semis after a 4-0 aggregate win over Horoya while Setif advanced with a narrow 1-0 aggregate victory over defending champions Wydad of Morocco.

"Horoya were not good enough in defence, which wasn't organised and they leaked four goals," he said. 

"This will not be the case in Tuesday's clash; we will be very careful not to commit any mistakes."