Stellenbosch FC coach Evangelos Vellios has warned his side to prepare for another Diski Challenge title race that goes all the way to the last day of the season.

Reigning champions Stellies were given baptism of fire a fourth night ago when they were thumped 4-0 by SuperSport United. That result saw them drop to fourth place on the log.

However, last weekend they bounced back with a hard-fought 4-3 victory against Mamelodi Sundowns to maintain their charge by drawing level on points with third-placed Sundowns.

Stellies are now four points behind pace-setters Kaizer Chiefs.

Vellios continues to insist his side are not favourites to lift the Diski Challenge trophy as they seek to be crowned champions for an unprecedented second successive season.

However, he expects Stellies to remain in the hunt, with the soft spoken mentor saying: "If we want to win the league we got to be consistent. I think this season again will go down to the wire."

Last season the Diski Challenge title race was decided on the last day where Stellies edged Golden Arrows 3-2 to beat Sundowns to the title.

"It is so difficult to win the Diski back-to-back, I think we have the calibre to win it again but it will be difficult," added the two-time Diski-winning coach.

Vellios added that they are happy with how the youngsters have fared in the 15 games.

"If you look at the log we are sitting in the top four, top five. Overall, we have done well, and we will need to be consistent."

Stellies will be up against Western Cape rivals, Cape Town City FC in one of the DDC derby matches on Sunday.

The coach admitted it won't be easy but they would be prepared on the day.