Coach Shakes Mashaba has to decide between a striker not playing at club level or a man still on a high after scoring in the MTN8 final as his choices for centre-forward in a crucial opening World Cup-qualifier for Bafana Bafana. South Africa meet Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou on Saturday hoping for a good start in their Russia 2018 qualifying campaign.Thamsanqa Gabuza has become one of the coach’s favourites‚ even though game time at Orlando Pirates has been hard to come by.Gabuza‚ to his credit‚ works incredibly hard up front and playing on the continent usually brings out a side we don’t get to see from the cantering striker in domestic football.But then there is Eleazar Rodgers‚ the Bidvest Wits striker who scored and created a goal in the MTN8 final victory over Mamelodi Sundowns last Saturday in Nelspruit. He’s itching to prove himself so that he gets more call-ups in future. Both players have been trying to impress Mashaba in training this week‚ but who will the coach go for as the target-man upfront in Saturday’s qualifier at Stade du 4 Aout?We look at who has a better chance of making an impact starting the match:International experience:Rodgers only has two Bafana caps‚ while Gabuza has been involved with the national team for over a year now. Gabuza also has experience of playing in continental club competitions with Pirates.Verdict: Advantage GabuzaForm:Gabuza is struggling to break into Muhsin Ertugral's starting lineup at Pirates‚ as the coach prefers Tendai Ndoro as the lone man up front. Rodgers‚ however‚ has started fairly well since joining Wits from Platinum Stars. He has scored two goals in seven matches.Verdict: Advantage RodgersFinishing:Both players can be wasteful up front. Gabuza missed numerous opportunities during Bafana’s failed 2017 Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Even though Rodgers can be wasteful‚ he has proven to be dangerous with his head. Verdict: Advantage RodgersPositioning:They both like to get themselves into the box to make sure they get onto the end of crosses.Verdict: A tieResult: Rodgers has the advantage‚ but it remains to be seen what Mashaba decides.- TMG Digital/ TMG Sport..