Mich D’Avray is excited by the anticipated match-up between Rivaldo Coetzee and Liverpool star Sadio Mane, when Bafana Bafana face Senegal in the 2018 World Cup qualifier at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

The Kakamas-born defender has regularly featured at the centre of defence for the national team and is expected to be named in Shakes Mashaba’s starting XI for tomorrow’s clash.

‘We are proud of Rivaldo, we all know he is still young and has extraordinary qualities as a player,’ said the Ajax assistant coach.

‘The fact that he may face Mane could be an interesting duel for him and his Bafana teammates as well as his club teammates.

‘He follows our former player, Abbubaker Mobara, who marked Brazil’s Neymar in Brazil during the Olympics.

‘We are proud of the boys and we wish the national team including Rivaldo all the best as we are confident they can reach the World Cup.

‘He is getting game time in the national team and that means he will grow which in my view will come back to help the club.’

The match kicks off at 15:00.