Cape Town – Bafana Bafana (73rd) entertain lowly-ranked (189th) Seychelles in their next African Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday and will be hoping the fixture ends in nothing less than three valuable log points.
After a disappointing goalless draw against Libya in Durban last month, South Africa are desperate to get their AFCON qualification back on track.
The first of two matches against the island nation will take place at the FNB Stadium before Stuart Baxter's charges jet off for the return leg on Tuesday, October 16.
In Group E, South Africa and Libya are both on 4 points with only goal difference separating the two nations.
African giants Nigeria, who sailed to an emphatic 3-0 win over the Seychelles in September, are in third place with 3 points.
The Seychelles are anchored at the bottom of the group with 0 points.
Despite the Super Eagles' position in the group, they remain favourites to end top of the pile with four games left to play.
Meanwhile, Nigeria face Libya on Friday at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium before traveling to the North African country for the return leg.
To take a major step towards being one of two teams to qualify from Group E for next year's tournament in Cameroon, Bafana Bafana need to claim maximum points against Seychelles – with fellow contenders Libya and Nigeria set to take points off each other in their own 'double-header'.
However, as the group stands, anything can still happen and things could change by the end of the international break.
If tied on points, tie-breakers are applied according to points picked up in head-to-head matches.
Usually held in January and February, AFCON 2019 will take place in June-July next year for the first time following a vote by the CAF Executive Committee in 2017.
It will also be the first competition with 24 nations – previously 16 countries – from the African continent competing for gold-plated trophy.
Kick-off on Saturday is at 15:00.
BAFANA BAFANA'S AFCON QUALIFYING FIXTURES:
Nigeria 0-2 Bafana Bafana (October 6, 2017)
Bafana Bafana 0-0 Libya (September 8, 2018)
Bafana Bafana v Seychelles (October 10, 2018)
Seychelles v Bafana Bafana (October 13, 2018)
Bafana Bafana v Nigeria (November 16, 2018)
Libya v Bafana Bafana (March 22, 2019)
