Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach Manqoba Mngqithi has suggested that star play-maker Gaston Sirino will return to the starting lineup for the Telkom Knockout semi-finals clash with Golden Arrows in Durban this weekend.
Sirino has missed the Brazilians' last two games, having picked up an injury in the Telkom Knockout quarter-final victory over Chippa United on November 3 - a game in which the Uruguayan scored two goals before limping off.
Sirino's absence, along with that of Themba Zwane's, was keenly felt in the 3-2 Absa Premiership defeat to Golden Arrows in Downs' last fixture played in torrential downpour in Durban.
And Mngqithi has confirmed that Sirino is set to play a part against Arrows as Pitso Mosimane's have an immediate opportunity to seek revenge against Abafana Bes'thende, but that Zwane will probably not feature.
"It's a blow for us. We lost some key players. The bad part is we lost some offensive players," Mngqithi told KickOff.
"Gaston Sirino has been out for a long time but we are hoping he will be back for this one. Mshishi [Zwane] has been out and looks like he will miss this one.
"Everybody knows what Mshishi can do for us but we can't complain and say we are short of players."
Kick-off is at 15:00.