All is set for what promises to be a swashbuckling, physical and potentially explosive Group D encounter when Ghana play Australia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
Both teams would have to reshuffle their starting line-ups due to injuries or suspensions.
The Black Stars will definitely be without defender Isaac Vorsah and possibly John Mensah who is not entirely ruled out even though he limped out of training on Friday.
In the absence of the powerful duo of Mensah and Vorsah, coach Rajevac is likely to fall on the younger pair of Lee Addy and Samuel Incoom who played in the final of the 2010 African Cup of Nations against Egypt. Coach Rajevach was keen to stress that he has options "We will see how the situation is with Mensah, but we have other players who can replace them you know. We have enough players to come in and replace them."
Meanwhile,Australia's coach Pim Verbeek is quoted as saying the "real Socceroos will show up" against Ghana. In that case, he would have to map out a winning strategy without striker Tim Cahill, out through suspension and tough defensive midfielder Vinnie Grella who is still nursing a knee injury.
However, their absence, according to Rajevac, may rather strengthen the Aussies' resolve. "It's going to be a tough, tough game. This is a huge challenge for us and we have to concentrate as well as we did in our first match."
The Black Stars' training session was lifted by the presence of Ghana's Vice President John Dramani Mahama who watched and then interacted with the coach, technical staff and players. The Vice President, who was accompanied by Sports Minister Hon Akua Sena Dansua, promised to ensure that his government would do all it's power to assist the team go all the way and bring the World Cup back to Ghana.
The Vice President also revealed that he will remain in South Africa to support the team following an invitation from Goldfields West Africa vice president Peter Turner. As the headline sponsor of the Black Stars Goldfields Ghana has remained solidly behind the team since 2005.
e.Ghana's Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah writing for SA 2010 Fans Diaries at the World Cup.
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