Sundowns started the game on the front foot but failed to penetrate a stubborn Arrows defence, with Siyanda Ndlovu rattling the crossbar the closest the hosts came to scoring.
Arrows goalkeeper Dumsani Sibisi made a fine save on stroke of half-time when keeping out a thunderous long-range effort from Mothobi Mvala.
Sibisi was having an inspired performance and the shot-stopper denied Rayners from opening the scoring, the goalkeeper keeping out a left-footed strike.
The deadlock was finally broken with about 20 minutes of regulation time remaining when Antonio van Wyk saw his pin-point cross glanced into the back of the net by Rayners.
The visitors would be forced to throw men forward in search of the equaliser, but they could not create clear-cut opportunities to test home 'keeper Ricardo Goss.
Sundowns ultimately showed their experience to hold on their slender lead and became the first team into the last-four of this season's Carling Knockout Cup.
Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena remain injury doubts for Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso ahead of the CAF Super Cup final clash against USM Alger at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso praised his team for grinding out a 1-0 win in their Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals clash with Golden Arrows on Tuesday.
Rushine De Reuck has reflected on his time at Mamelodi Sundowns after scoring for Simba SC in their 3-2 Tanzanian Premier League comeback win over Namungo on Monday.
Mamelodi Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners says his side are confident of securing their place in the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup.
