You can expect changes to the Bafana Bafana team that will take on Cape Verde in a must- win 2018 World Cup qualifier at Moses Mabhida Stadium tomorrow (7pm).

Bafana mentor Stuart Baxter is ready to wield the axe after the disappointing loss in Praia, which has dented Bafana's hopes of qualifying for next year's tournament in Russia.

Bafana got a reprieve when Burkina Faso and Senegal played to a goalless draw in Ouagadougou.

Baxter hinted in Durban yesterday that some players will have to make way and it would appear many are likely to be sacrificed.

"I was certainly not pleased with the way we played [in Cape Verde]. We didn't take the initiative," Baxter reflected.

"You could very possibly see changes in the midfield and you could very possibly see changes in the back four, because of Tower [Eric Mathoho, who got a red card in Praia], in the front unit and changes in the shape of the team. You could possibly see a change with the goalkeeper and on the bench, so you are likely to see changes," he hinted.

By yesterday afternoon, the Briton had suggested that the technical team could decide to bring in another centre back to replace the suspended Mathoho. With midfielder Thulani Serero returning from a hamstring injury, he could also be drafted in.

"Thulani is available. He came into the camp with a proposed hamstring strain, but within 48 hours the doctor told me he would be available, but I didn't think it would be fair to the rest of the players to bring him on to the bench for the first game. He's available for this one," he said.

The 64-year-old insisted, though, that he would make changes in the best interests of the team rather than to please the nation.

"Everybody's got their favourites. So you obviously like Andile Jali [in reference to a journalist who posed the question]. Some other guy likes Mokotjo and some other guy likes Serero, so I can't please all of the people all the time."