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Swazis 'can test Bafana'

There's a point to Bafana's friendly international against minnows Swaziland, coach Shakes Mashaba argued before the national team's departure for tonight's clash at the Somhlolo Stadium (7pm).

Mashaba said he was not surprised by the public's reaction when the fixture against a side that has never participated in the Africa Cup of Nations was confirmed last week.

But the SA Football Association did not have the luxury to pick any opposition on their wish list, the coach added.

"People will never understand. You see, the problem with players is that they tend to undermine such opposition by calling them weak, and then everyone gets shocked when they hold you to a draw or beat you," said Mashaba.

"We want to test our players' mindset and thinking against Swaziland. Their style also differs to the way Bafana play."

Bafana, who travelled yesterday without Dean Furman, Anele Ngcongca, May Mahlangu and Erick Mathoho, will return home to host much stronger opposition in the Super Eagles at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday. However, Mashaba was adamant there was plenty for his reduced 26-man squad to pick up from the trip to Swaziland.

Ngcongca and Mahlangu are injured, while Mathoho was excused due to a family commitment but will rejoin the team ahead of the Nigeria match.

"Let us start by being champions in our [Cosafa] region. That is why this game is important. Swaziland came in as the best option to take on and see how they can test us," Mashaba said.

Mashaba has vowed to pull out the big guns. Itumeleng Khune, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Ayanda Patosi and Thulani Serero have all made a comeback to the national team and are expected to play a role as the coach continues to search for a settled team.

He again acknowledged that Swaziland, ranked 163rd by Fifa, did not possess the quality Bafana had and suggested that he would also be doing them a favour by treating the friendly match as a battle of equals.

"I've been speaking to their technical director to find out if everything is OK," said Mashaba, who coached Swaziland between 2008 and 2010. "They are very limited and we have discussed why we should put up our strongest team."

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