PLATINUM Stars will have key attacking midfielder Mogakolodi Ngele available for selection against Mamelodi Sundowns in their MTN8 quarterfinal on Saturday after he was not released for international duty with Botswana this weekend.

Ngele, along with back- up goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe, were part of the Zebras squad that defeated Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in the first leg of their 2015 African Nations Cup qualifier tie a fortnight ago.

But with the second leg clashing with the season- opening MTN8 quarterfinal against league champions Sundowns, Dikwena stuck to their guns and refused to release the pair for the return in west Africa.

Ngele scored in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinal against Sundowns last season that was won by Stars on their way to lifting a second piece of silverware for the season.

CAF’s chaotic scheduling of the knockout qualifiers for the Nations Cup finals in Morocco fall outside of Fifa match days and so clubs are not compelled to release players.

With a potential first prize of R8-million in the MTN8, which they are defending after beating Orlando Pirates in the final in Durban last year, and the potential for injury of their leading player on a difficult away trip, it is easy to see why Stars have stood their ground.

Meanwhile, coach Allan Freese says they are as ready as they will ever be to tackle star-studded Sundowns.

“Pre-season has gone well, exactly according to the plan. We have played a couple of friendlies to get us ready physically and mentally, and I am happy with how those have gone,” he said.

“But we are playing a Sundowns side that had quality players across the park and it will not be easy, but at the same time we have prepared as well as we can do and I am sure we will give a good account of ourselves. We will certainly give it our best.”