Johannesburg - Siphiwe Tshabalala believes Bafana Bafana's clash against Brazil this weekend will give a good indication of how the team have developed since last they took on the Samba Kings.

South Africa are currently in Sao Paulo ahead of Friday's friendly against the five-time World Cup winners as the team begin preparations ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The last time the two sides met was in 2009, with Brazil going on to clinch a 1-0 victory in the Confederations Cup semi-finals, but with new coach Gordon Igesund set to take charge of Bafana for the first time since his appointment in June, Kaizer Chiefs playmaker Tshabalala is excited by the prospect of a new era under the former Moroka Swallows tactician.

"We are aware this will not be an easy match and this should be a good test for all of us," he said.

"We are working towards the 2013 AFCON tournament and the clash against Brazil will give us an indication of where we are.

"We have played three times against Brazil and we have learnt a lot from those matches, especially the last one where we lost narrowly through lack of experience.

"But I have great belief that this time around we will do better, not taking anything away from our opponents who are a formidable team."