Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos admits that his charges "need to win" against Zimbabwe to ensure they have the upper hand when travelling to Ghana.
The Belgian mentor named his 24-man squad for the two crucial 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup qualifiers, starting next week.
South Africa welcome the Warriors on Thursday, 11 November, before boarding an aeroplane to take on the Black Stars three days later on Sunday, 14 November.
In September, Broos' first match in the dugout was against Zimbabwe, with the game ending in a goalless draw.
After four qualifying matches, Bafana Bafana remain at the top of Group G with 10 points, ahead of second-placed Ghana (9 points).
The Black Stars are South Africa's only threat heading into the final two matches, with the group winner advancing to the next round of qualifiers.
Ethiopia and Zimbabwe have no chance of advancing to the next round.
"It's a tricky game. First of all, they are the neighbours, so this is a derby. It's always difficult," said Broos after announcing the squad on SABC.
"I don't know what they are going to do. If the coach will maybe put a team in preparation of Afcon [2023] and maybe try some new players. Or is he going back to some old players like before, and also preparing for Afcon?"
"This is something we have to see in the next week. We have to focus on the fact that we have to win.
"If we don't win the game, what importance can the game in Ghana have? We need to be there [in Ghana] with one point ahead. Maybe more. Let's hope more.
"Ghana have the pressure to win against us, so therefore we have to win against Zimbabwe. If it's a Zimbabwe with the team from two months ago, or a new team, or whatever, doesn't matter. We need to win against Zimbabwe."
"We are better than we were two months ago. When I see the game of two months ago, it was hesitating. It was no confidence; it was new. I was new, and the players were new."
Broos, who has shaken up the Bafana squad by selecting younger players, said he is finally starting to see improvements.
"We didn't have two, three weeks to adapt to each other. We had three, four days. So, for me, it was waiting and see what would happen on the field.
"What I saw was a team that was not ready in that moment. Certainly, mentally, they were not ready.
"But three days later [in a 1-0 win at home to Ghana], I saw what I wanted to see. From that time, we have grown. We did it [with back-to-back wins] against Ethiopia with character and mentality.
"The game against Zimbabwe, who they will put in, is not so important for us. We have to know what we can do and be comfortable. I think that we have a great chance to win it."
