The two players have featured as a pair in central defence in Bafana’s last four Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, conceding just once.
Things, however, have not gone so well at club level. The Clever Boys have kept just one clean in nine matches in 2019, a big concern as Bafana prepare to take on Libya in their final Group E match in Sfax, Tunisia, on Sunday.
Baxter’s other options in central defence are Kaizer Chiefs’ Daniel Cardoso and Rivaldo Coetzee. But the former Chiefs and SuperSport United coach could go with Hlatshwayo and Mkhwanazi.
“I’m sure it would have been better for us if they had seven shut outs in the last seven games. But I’m sure the benefit of training together everyday and playing together every week, knowing how people react in situations, when you get into a pressure cooker like we are going to, I’m sure it will be a help,” Baxter said.
“Now that is if the players are playing well, the camp will tell me that . Are they gelling properly? Do they put on their Bafana hat on again and do they make sure that they do the things we want to do? I see it as being a benefit. What they are going through at club level, I don’t know. But Nigeria are the only ones who’ve scored against us and that was an own goal in this group. I think that’s something we should be proud of.”