Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter demonstrated yesterday that he's not taking any chances for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Looking relaxed while addressing the media at Southern Sun Hotel near OR Tambo International Airport, the 64-year-old explained why he replaced 20-year-old defender Rivaldo Coetzee, who is injured, with the experienced 33-year-old Clayton Daniels.

Baxter said he could have gone for a young defender like Motjeka Madisha (22), but needed someone who would hit the ground running.

"There are logical explanations to that: Clayton is a local and can get in quick. Clayton's got the experience, so it's not going to faze him. I know him," Baxter said.

"Is this [match against Cape Verde] the right one to bring Madisha in? I doubt it, because he's got to go straight in, hit the ground running and give a performance.

"So it does matter that I've worked with Clayton before [at SuperSport United] and if this was a friendly, two or three names would have come to my thinking," said Baxter.

He added: "But here every player that's in the squad has got to be really equipped to be able to give a performance because winning and getting the result is the most important thing."

Daniels' arrival means there are now six players in the squad from United.

The others are Ronwen Williams, Morgan Gould, Dean Furman, Reyaad Pieterse and Bradley Grobler.

"Ron was selected in the original squad and if he doesn't screw up big time on camp, Ron must be the favourite [to start]. I don't have that one, two and three [in terms of who he prefers], because I've never had that in camp, but if you were a betting man I'm sure you would put your money on Ron to start."

Bafana had a light training session yesterday and are leaving for Cape Verde today.