NEWS: Steve Barker has one eye on Champions League football as Stellenbosch FC march on

Stellies are in second place on the DStv Premiership standings with four games of their season to play.

They lead Orlando Pirates by three points and are 10 points better off than Sekhukhune United in fourth.

While it would take a complete capitulation by the in-form Cape Winelands club to miss out on continental football next season, Stellies still need to pick up points in games with AmaZulu, Moroka Swallows, league champions Mamelodi Sundowns and Richards Bay to make their dreams a reality.

But confidence is high in the camp coming off the back of a 5-0 win over Polokwane City and a 3-0 defeat of Golden Arrows, leaving Barker optimistic that they will be playing either Champions League or Confederation Cup football next term.

Barker explained on iDiski Times: “We are mindful of it but I think every game we get closer we have to start preparing both in terms of squad and also just how we’re gonna manage it.

“So yeah, we are getting closer as we speak. Let’s hope we can achieve our target of finishing in the second position but still a bit of work to be done.

“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves too early. We just have to continue, taking it one game at a time.”

A confident Barker added: “But you can be rest assured that whatever happens and every eventuality we will be prepared for what the future holds.”