Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has reserved praise for one Mamelodi Sundowns player as the two powerhouses of South African football prepare to lock horns in the Betway Premiership on Saturday.
Chiefs are set to meet defending league champions Sundowns at what will likely be a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday – albeit only around 60,000 tickets have been made available.
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It will be the first meeting between the two sides, who have enjoyed similar starts to the season.
Amakhosi have collected six points from their two opening league matches, beating Marumo Gallants 2-1 and then conjuring up a first half performance for the ages to suffocate AmaZulu, whom they defeated 3-1.
Ditto Sundowns.
Manqoba Mngqithi's men got the better of cross-town rivals SuperSport United by a 2-0 score line, prior to putting Gallants to the sword, hammering them 4-1.
Ahead of the much anticipated fixture this weekend, Nabi – who has been spotted at several Sundowns matches this season – revealed his admiration of his upcoming opposition's new signing Iqraam Rayners.
"I do feel that they have kept the same philosophy and the quality of football is still there," noted Nabi.
"Iqraam has not had much time to integrate with the team, but he has brought his effectiveness and he is scoring. He is a value to the team."
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Sundowns signed the centre-forward in a big-money deal ahead of the new league season, activating his buy-out clause at Stellenbosch, and he has wasted no time in settling into his new surroundings.
The 28-year-old has netted thrice from his four appearances in the Blue and Yellow colours and will be the man to watch at the Calabash come Saturday.
At the opposite end of the field, Chiefs have also proven to be lethal up front, with Gaston Sirino having contributed one goal and two assists from two matches, while Ranga Chivaviro will have his tail up after his goal against AmaZulu FC.