The fact that top class players such as Mabhuti Khanyeza, Thando Mngomeni and Manqoba Ngwenya can be left out of the side certainly implies that the team has a lot of strength in depth.

Coach Conti Khubeka has put his faith in the untested overseas strike duo of Ryan Botha, who plays for My Pa in Finland, and FC Copenhagen's Elrio Van Heerden.

The midfield is also packed with quality, especially in the form of the Pirates duo of Benedict Vilakazi, Joseph Makhanya and Gift Leremi.

Leremi and Makhanya, in particular, will be called upon to perform the playmakers role in the absence of Steven Pienaar.

The backline also looks very solid - Nasief Morris is fast proving himself on the international club stage with his Greek team, Panathinaikos, while Bucs defender Edward Malinga is coming on in leaps and bounds and will be looking to emulate his former Maritzburg City and Pirates team-mate, Mbulelo Mabizela, by earning himself a move overseas.

So the quality is certainly there, it's now up to the young men to deliver the goods against Algeria, who are arguably the weakest team in the group.