Mamelodi Sundowns players have no time to rest as they embark on club duties just two days after most of them featured in international matches.
Sundowns had 11 players out on international duty and just two did not play with nine of them selected for Bafana Bafana.
However, they will have to overcome any tiredness as they have their Nedbank Cup quarter-final fixture against Sekhukhune United scheduled for Friday.
The match was to be played on March 8 but was postponed after the Lucas Moripe Stadium was booked by another team for a match on the same day.
Now, both Sundowns and Sekhukhune will be looking for a semi-final ticket with the draw already conducted as the winner of this match will face Kaizer Chiefs in the last four.
Form guide
Sundowns come into this match looking to bounce back to winning ways after their 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates on March 16 which revived the Buccaneers’ title hopes.
Sundowns had been on a seven-match unbeaten run before the loss to Pirates when they won six and drew one and are favourites to win this match.
Babina Noko come into the match also after suffering a 2-1 loss to Stellenbosch FC in their last match before the international break.
Head-to-head
This will be the third meeting between Sundowns and Sekhukhune this season with the Brazilians having won both, securing a 3-0 win in November, before winning a six-goal thriller 4-2 in February.
Overall, this is a fixture in which Sundowns have been so dominant as they are unbeaten in eight meetings against Babina Noko, winning seven and drawing one.
Team news
With Sundowns having 11 players on international duty, coach Miguel Cardoso will ring the changes in order to have fresh legs for Friday’s contest.
Veteran goalkeeper Dennis Onyango could get the nod after Ronwen Williams played for Bafana Bafana in both matches against Lesotho and Benin with Khuliso Mudau and Thapelo Morena the others likely to get a rest.
What have they said?
Goalkeeper Dennis Onyango says the game will not just be about getting a ticket to the Nedbank Cup semi-final but will also act as preparation for their CAF Champions League quarter-final against Tunisian giants Esperance on April 1.
“Even though some guys are with the national team and they will come in and join us for a few days, we have no choice but to play because we have a lot of matches ahead,” Onyango told the club media department as per SowetanLive.
“The guys are looking forward to the game and everyone who is given an opportunity [to play] has to give his best because we are all here to play. The game on Friday will give us momentum going into the Champions League match against Esperance on Tuesday.”
Time & where to watch
The match will kick off at 19:00 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium and will be live on SuperSport TV.
Mamelodi Sundowns predicted XI
Onyango, Mdunyelwa, Khoza, Suarez, Modiba, Allende, Adams, Ribeiro, Kodisang, Sales
