Johannesburg - Injured Bafana Bafana midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi has warned his team-mates not to roll over to Sierra Leone's bullies.

The Fulham grafter has been struggling with a thigh sprain that has kept him sidelined for much of his time in England. He has only managed 12 appearances thus far for the Cottagers and will be watching on TV as Bafana do duty in Freetown.

The ex-Golden Arrows captain was part of Bafana's squad that lost away to the Leone Stars in 2008 and knows what's in store for Pitso Mosimane and the players.

"They should be tough mentally and expect a tough game because they are going to be bullied by everyone including the players," he told his official website.

"But they should know that the country is behind them.

"It is not going to be easy, Sierra Leone are a good team. The facilities are not going to be good - I know that because I have been there before."

Dikgacoi wants Bafana to draw on the inspiration of past greats who played in turbulent circumstances.

"They normally say 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going' so I expect them to adopt that attitude, like the Bafana team of Mark Fish, Doctor Khumalo and others who once played with soldiers pointing guns at the them in the DRC," he added.

'KG' is eager to resume his duties for Fulham under manager Mark Hughes.

"I am hoping to be fit by next week and to be back in action and perhaps with a chance of making the team when we play Tottenham Hotspur in our second London derby in two weeks," he concluded.