Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has revealed how they intend to navigate their AFCON opener this afternoon in the scorching heat of North Africa.
With temperatures set to peak at a high of 39 degrees Celsius in Cairo on Monday, around the time Bafana take on Ivory Coast at 16h30, it is one more factor to consider in their approach to the match.
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After a week in Dubai, where temperatures also soared to above 40 degrees, and another week since arriving in Cairo, Baxter is confident their experience of such extreme conditions will not be a shock unto their systems come this afternoon but admits their game-plan has to be slightly altered.
"If it's very hot, we have to think about the game-plan. To be pressing all over the field for 90 mins is probably not realistic," said Baxter in the pre-match press conference.
"To start with, we have to manage hydration and nutrition before the game. We've been speaking a lot about that. Players have been getting weighed while working out there.
"Josh [Smith – physical trainer] has been working out there with their fluid loss and replacements, and they've had advice on that – that's the first thing.
"The second thing is that we've been trying to train at that time now for the last few days to get used to the heat, while in Dubai on our previous camp.
"So, the way the players are at present, I think we can play not normally [but] we can handle it, unless it goes off the scale."
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The British tactician pointed out that the one major concern is not necessarily the physical effects of the heat and humidity but rather the players' mentality in trying to use their energy sparingly, thus not giving 100 percent out on the park.
"The problem sometimes is not physically, it's the mentality of thinking that you need to cut corners, 'otherwise I'll be tired.,'" he added.
"You've got to put that out of your mind, you've got to go as long as you can. If you can't go any further, then we have to replace that player.
"But if your attitude is right, and our hydration strategies are effective and efficient, then I think we will manage it."