SIBONISO Gaxa and Kagisho Dikgacoi are ready to step into the breach for Bafana Bafana against a big, physical Mali in Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal match at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Gaxa has yet to play in the Afcon but the suspension of Anela Ngcongca is likely to see the Kaizer Chiefs man, always a defensive stalwart for club and country, drafted in at right-back.

Dikgacoi was one of the players dropped after a tough 0-0 opener for Bafana against Cape Verde, though he might be considered for his physical attributes to lend support to Dean Furman in Bafana's central midfield.

The experienced Gaxa, who has 54 caps and played two games for Bafana at the 2010 World Cup, said yesterday that he would grab a chance to play in an Afcon quarterfinal.

"I don't know about me being in line for a place or starting. No one is guaranteed a place, so we'll see on Saturday when the coach selects his line-up," Gaxa said.

"Of course it would be nice, representing your country in an Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal on home soil. I've played big games for the national team and this would be one of the big ones too."

Mali are expected to be a very tough team for Bafana to overcome. They are tall, calm in defence and play a smothering game in midfield.

"They're a big, strong team," Gaxa said. "We play different football. We've got our strengths and they've got their strengths."

Mali's central midfield utilises a lone player, Mohamed Sissoko, in front of the defence, with two playmakers, Samba Sow and the former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita, who has been one of the stars of the tournament, ahead of him.

Against Morocco, SA's lone defensive midfielder, Furman, was purposefully targeted and put under pressure, and often had to pass backwards, which affected Bafana's transition from defence to attack.

Coach Gordon Igesund might consider bringing either Dikgacoi or Reneilwe Letsholonyane back alongside Furman against Mali to counter the threat of Sow and Keita.

"It's very competitive (in the Bafana central midfield), even among the players who've not been playing," Dikgacoi said. "I'm happy for Dean, he's been doing well, even from the days he first came into the national team. The competition is going to be tough but I'm still going to fight for my position."

Igesund's options have been widened by the return from injury of Lehlohonolo Majoro, while Thulani Serero's match fitness has improved with each run he has been handed.