Mamelodi Sundowns’ league match against Richards Bay FC on Tuesday night will have them as the only club playing another game in-between the two legs of their CAF Champions League quarterfinal.
Their opponents Young Africans plus the rest of the teams in the last eight – Al Ahly, Simba, TP Mazembe, Petro de Luanda, Esperance and ASEC Mimosas – only have their focus on the Champions League second legs.
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Sundowns will come up against Richards Bay favoured to win regardless of who they field from the 41 players that Rulani Mokwena has used this season.
So, who should the Brazilians play, with the game against Yanga on Friday the priority?
Ronwen Williams has been involved in all but three league games, giving him the most minutes in the domestic championship, so a rest will be justified.
Denis Onyango and Reyaad Pieterse have played one game and so any one of them will provide solid cover.
At the back, there have been minutes for Rushine De Reuck, Brian Mandela Onyango, Terrence Mashego, Khuliso Mudau, Mothobi Mvala, Rivaldo Coetzee, Divine Lunga, Zuko Mdunyelwa, Thapelo Morena, Grant Kekana, Mosa Lebusa, Abdelmounaim Boutouil, Aubrey Modiba and Sifiso Ngobeni (now on loan at AmaZulu FC).
Mudau, Kekana and Modiba should get priority rest and be kept fresh for Friday having travelled across the continent from Algeria last week while on international duty.
In midfield, it would make sense to keep Teboho Mokoena and Marcelo Allende away from the action on Tuesday, leaving Bathusi Aubaas, Sammy Seabi, Thapelo Maseko, Lebohang Maboe, Sipho Mbule and Sphelele Mkhulise as options.
Bongani Zungu would have been an option to rest even if he wasn't suspended after accumulating four yellow cards.
Slightly further up the pitch, Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Thembinkosi Lorch, Tashreeq Matthews, Lesiba Nku, Gaston Sirino, Junior Mendieta, Themba Zwane, Neo Maema, Ntando Nkosi, Siyanda Nyanga, Keabetswe Ramotsei, Kutlwano Letlhaku and Siyabonga Mabena have all had minutes.
Ribeiro and Lorch will do with rest just like Zwane after he didn’t play in Tanzania due to suspension.
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Zwane’s next appearance will be his 400th for the club.
Peter Shalulile will do well to be reserved for Friday and have Matias Esquivel leading the line with Abubeker Nasir no longer registered.
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