Johannesburg - Lierse SK defender Siboniso Gaxa is confident that he can win back his first-team spot in the Bafana Bafana squad.

The right back has not started South Africa's games against Ghana and Niger as Pitso Mosimane has opted for Anele Ngcongca instead.

Gaxa recently moved to Belgium from Mamelodi Sundowns in a highly controversial transfer which saw him boycott training at the Brazilians after they initially refused to let him leave the club.

However, the 26-year-old's determination paid off as he was eventually granted a move at the end of August, but he believes his lack of game time is the reason for him not starting recently.

He told Football365.co.za: "To be honest I hadn't played football then since the last game I played against France.

"Sundowns didn't want to play me and obviously Pitso wouldn't risk someone who was playing regularly at his club and was sitting on the bench at training.

"I was unfit, my match fitness wasn't there so I wasn't going to play."

The former SuperSport United ace was on Thursday named in the 22-man Bafana squad that will do duty against against Sierra Leone next month in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

And he is confident of winning back his starting place after returning to match fitness.

"I have a few games under my belt here now and I am starting to get back to my best."