Attacking line-up expected from Igesund

Bongani Khumalo and Siboniso Gaxa joined their teammates in Brazil on Wednesday evening ahead of the friendly with the five-time World Champions, after the former's flight was cancelled on Tuesday, and ‘Pa' was drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Anele Ngcongca.

The session was a largely positive one – with a massive focus on attacking combinations, set pieces and quick counter-attacking options.

Igesund began working separately with what looked to be his starting line-up of Itumeleng Khune as the goalkeeper. Gaxa, Siyabonga Sangweni, Khumalo and Punch Masenamela operated as the defenders while Dean Furman and Kagisho Dikgacoi took care of central midfield. Siphiwe Tshabalala and Thabo Matlaba were used out wide while Thulani Serero served as the playmaker behind Benni McCarthy.

But throughout the session, there were changed in the personnel and the formation, with Igesund stating: "I haven't settled on my first 11 yet because there is so much competition and the guys are pushing and giving their all to be in my starting plans. This is a good situation for us."

Speaking on the focus on attack, Igesund explained, "We didn't come to Brazil just to sit back and allow them to play. We also want to play. I'm going to take a huge risk tomorrow and go with three very attacking forward players. It is going to be exciting, but it will also be new to the group, so hopefully they will adapt to the new style quickly.

Igesund also revealed that the sessions have been quite intensive on the players – with three weeks' worth of training being crammed into three days.

"We've tried to do a little of a lot of things in order to keep the guys fresh and give them an idea of combinations. Because of the little time we've had, we fitted in about three weeks of training in the three days we've spent in Brazil."

The coach also allayed fears over McCarthy's fitness. The Orlando Pirates hitman had his calf strapped and sat out Wednesday's training, but Igesund explained: "It was just to rest him because he was really put through his paces on Tuesday. Benni is fit, he has always been fit, and he was rested because the double training on Tuesday was very, very intense.

"We've had such bad luck with injuries so far, it was better to just be safe and not strain him."

With the injury scares out of the way, and a full squad to work with for the first time, Igesund was in a buoyant move at the end of the day.

"We have a lot of respect for Brazil, like everyone else in the world, but we plan on making them also respect us tomorrow," he concluded.