Bafana Bafana midfielders Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Thuso Phala are prepared for their AFCON quarter-final clash with Mali.
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The duo confirmed that preparations were intense ahead of the match but that they feel ready for the challenge.
The Eagles beat Bafana on home soil 11 years ago at the same stage of the 2002 AFCON where they were buoyed by a fervent home support.
And now with the South African fans fully behind the Boys and their flowing style of football, Bafana has a slight advantage going into this match.
The AFCON hosts were duly criticised for their lacklustre performance against Cape Verde in the opening match of the tournament, but a beguiling bounce-back against Angola won the fans and the press over.
Bafana won 2-0 and followed this up with another captivating match where they only needed a point to advance to the quarters. Morocco took the lead twice and Bafana fought back to end the match 2-2 and convinced everyone of their determination.
"We've watched Mali play and we won't compare them with the other teams we have played, they have good players with great experience. But we will prepare like we have been doing all along, put in all the hard work," said Letsholonyane who is commonly known as Yeye.
"There is pressure all the time, for us the pressure was there even before the start of the tournament but it is the kind of pressure that we have been able to handle. This team has shown character and we hope the same will happen come Saturday."
Platinum Stars player Thuso Phala says the criticism and opponents helped ready them for the Mali challenge.
"It is always an advantage coming from a tough game to another, having said that, it's always going to be difficult playing one of the top teams on the continent, but we know what we have to do.
"We just have to focus on our game and not Mali's. They are going to be a handful but it's a challenge we are aware of and ready for," Phala said.
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