The reality of Bafana Bafana facing Algeria in their Africa Cup of Nations opener without Mulomowandau Mathoho sets in tonight. Kickoff is at 9pm.

But South Africa's likely last line of defence - goalkeeper Darren Keet - believes the towering defender is replaceable.

Mathoho is serving a one-match suspension and, aware of having to fill the void, coach Shakes Mashaba has been toying with a few combinations in the build-up to the clash against the continent's number one side at the Estadio de Mongomo. Keet is confident the Bafana back-four will not fall apart without Mathoho.

"It's not such a big issue. In football everyone is replaceable. Of course, he was an important player in the qualification. He was always a mainstay in our defence and did fantastically well, and I think he got a few man-of-the-match awards leading up to the tournament.

"He's done exceptionally well for the team," Keet said.

"But we also have players like Anele [Ngcongca], Rivaldo [Coetzee], Tyson [Thulani Hlatshwayo] and we have brought in Ayanda [Gcaba]. I think we are completely covered in defence." Keet watched the two Bafana warm-up matches against Cameroon and Mali, a 1-1 draw and 3-0 victory played in Libreville, Gabon, from the bench, and thought Mashaba's men were convincing and would be equally as good when they face Algeria tonight. It looks like the coach will pair 18-year-old Coetzee with Hlatshwayo, who scored the first goal against Mali, in central defence.

"We have been solid and there are no issues about that. It is just a matter of keeping clean sheets."

Keet also trusts his teammates to shield him from Algeria's danger man and BBC African footballer of the year Yacine Brahimi, who plays for Porto FC.

Meanwhile, team doctor Thulani Ngwenya said Coetzee, Tokelo Rantie and Bernard Parker, who were rested in Bafana's final against Mali last week due to knocks, were all fit to endure 90 minutes against Algeria.

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