Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has admitted there may be threats of potential transfers unsettling his camp but has a plan to try and combat it.
Bafana are currently preparing for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, which is set to kick-off on June 21 and continue into July, which is also when the transfer window officially opens.
This could pose a threat, not only to South Africa's national team but also that of the other participating teams, as players become cognisant of interest in their service while at the tournament.
Reports are already rife that midfielder Fortune Makaringe, who is amongst the 27-man provisional squad, is on his way to Orlando Pirates, while uncertainty surrounds the immediate futures of goalkeeper Darren Keet and forward Percy Tau.
There were similar incidents two years back when Bafana were in camp to face Cape Verde in a crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier, and players were reportedly signing new contracts at the team hotel in the lead-up to the match, which they went on to lose.
Admitting transfer speculation and negotiations is an undeniable threat, Baxter is hoping to combat possible destabilisation of the players with a close-nit relationship and a true spirit of togetherness within the camp.
"The only way to combat it is to make sure that the players are focused on what's happening here, and not what could be happening elsewhere," said the Brit.
"You can talk about it, you can give them advice, and you can hope that the strength of the team spirit and 'we-feeling' will keep them together.
"Do you have any guarantees? No, you don't because that's the world that we live in today, isn't it?"
Bafana will commence their campaign on June 24, with their opening Group D encounter against Ivory Coast.