KAIZER CHIEFS VS MANCHESTER CITY

Tuesday, July 21
Absa Stadium, Durban

Kick-off: 20h15

TV: Live on SABC1

Manchester City will be looking to bounce back from their 2-0 Vodacom Challenge defeat at the hands of Orlando Pirates when they face Kaizer Chiefs at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Tuesday (kick-off 20h15).

The English Premiership side are likely to introduce some of their new signings, with England international Gareth Barry certain to start, while Argentine star Carlos Tevez faces a race against time to be fit after suffering from a bruised heel.

“It’s been really good for us to be in South Africa and we have enjoyed our time so far,” Hughes said. “The important thing for us is to make sure our conditioning is good and the games are of a good standard and we found out at the weekend against Pirates that they would be.

“In terms of bringing players into the team for the Chiefs game, Gareth [Barry] will take part tomorrow, but Carlos [Tevez] hasn’t had a training session yet because of bruising to his heel. He will train today [Monday], so it may be a little bit soon for him tomorrow. Hopefully he will be ready for the final on Saturday though.”

Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz remains sidelined through injury, while new Togolese signing Emmanuel Adebayor jets into the country on Tuesday morning.

One man who will be hopeful of more game-time is highly-rated youngster Michael Johnson, who missed the majority of last season through injury but got 45 minutes under his belt against The Buccaneers.

South African fans may not be all that aware of Johnson, but the 21-year-old has been tipped by experts in England to be a leading light in world football in the future.

"I would have liked a bit longer in my heart of hearts, but 45 minutes was fine and playing was all I wanted to do,” Johnson told www.mcfc.co.uk. “I just wanted to play myself into the game, I started slowly but I gradually got into it a lot more.

"I keep getting stronger every time I train and play and I just want to keep working at it. For the rest of the tour I just want to keep playing as much as I can, keep training and get fitter, that's what it's all about at this time of the year."

Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic is looking forward to his biggest game in charge of the Amakhosi to date, but says there is no pressure to emulate the result achieved by Pirates in Polokwane.

“This is a very important tournament for South Africa and for us it is a good test to see where we are at this point of pre-season, and perhaps what we need for the future,” Vermezovic said. “As I said a couple of weeks ago, we are taking things step-by-step. Our next step is tomorrow [Tuesday] and after the game against Manchester City we will then think about Pirates on Thursday.

“I am very satisfied with the level of my players at this point, with the technical and physical aspects of the squad, and we wil go into the game against City with confidence.”

Chiefs captain Jimmy Tau will not be involved in the match through injury, but says the squad is looking forward to meeting players of the calibre of City.

“The players are looking forward to a very exiting game,” Tau says. “I don’t think you can read too much into Saturday and I think this will be a different kind of challenge from what we are used to as a team. But we are ready.”