Shakes Mashaba is anticipating an ‘open’ game when his Bafana Bafana side take on Gambia away in their penultimate Afcon 2017 qualifier on Saturday.

The Scorpions clash is a must-win for Bafana if they garner any hope of qualifying for the tournament, and Mashaba is predicting the hosts will look to play open and assertive football in their own backyard, reports KickOff.

‘What makes us happy is that they have got to play now,’ said Mashaba. ‘They are at home, they have to come out playing so that’s why I was interested to see them in a friendly against Zambia recently.

‘Fortunately they played at home and Zambia had their best team, it was not a make-shift team, so they are going to open up – they must and that’s where I think we want them.’

Incredibly, Mashaba has conceded his assertion of Gambia is based on the analysis of the 0-0 Zambia stalemate alone.

‘The only one I’ve studied was the one I mentioned. I watched them in what would have been their last practice match against Zambia – four of their best players were not there but I always say “yesterday, today, tomorrow will never be the same”,’ he added.

‘You might see your team playing well today and tomorrow it’s a different team altogether. We need to be prepared for everything that we might come across against Gambia and Mauritania.’

The match will be played in Independence Stadium in Bakau on Saturday.

Kick-off is set for 19:00.