Pienaar says he's up for the challenge

Everton midfield star Steven Pienaar is relishing captaining Bafana Bafana against the United States in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night

"It is a great honour being asked to be captain and it means a lot to me, but having said that, I will not allow myself to be carried away," he said on Tuesday.

Pienaar has developed into a genuine world class midfield player  at English Premiership outfit Everton, and will wear the captain's armband in place of Portsmouth defender Aaron Mokoena, who is being  rested.

Also being rested is midfield workhorse Macbeth Sibaya.

Pienaar said he was more than up for his biggest challenge against a new-look United States.

"I did not want to rest. I was always keen to play especially as  this match is being staged in Cape Town and I enjoy playing here. We are heading for a full house. It is going to be a special game for the fans and for me being my first game as captain and hopefully we get a win."

He was not worried about getting "special treatment" from the US.

"This game is not about me. We are a team and I will have my teammates around me. I enjoy the challenge and I am not worried about being a target. It is all part of the game."

He was also not reading too much into US coach Bob Bradley's selection of an experimental squad to play Bafana.

"The US coach is trying to look at new players and that means they will be trying to impress him.

"I have played against a number of Americans internationals in the Premiership and the new generation [of US players] we face are going to be tough."