The players on the injury and sick list are Scara Ngobese, Patrick Mayo, Thabo Mooki, Junior Khanye, Rene Richards, Gerald Sibeko, David Radebe, Gert Schalkwyk, Fabian McCarthy, Songwe Chalwe and reserve keeper Emille Baron.

But coach Ted Dumitru remained confident despite this setback.

"I can cope with injuries and sickness,” he said. "But what is worrying me is that I do not have time to prepare a new team to play Santos. I need at least three days to get players ready."