SWAZILAND coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba has warned Zimbabwe that Sunday’s Orange African Nations Championship first-round, first leg qualifier in Mbabane will not be a walk in the park for the visitors.

Mashaba said on Wednesday that his charges were preparing very hard for their home-leg showdown against the 2009 CHAN finalists.

"Let me first say that fortunately I know Zimbabwe very well from for some time now since I won our first Cosafa Cup in 2002 with Bafana-Bafana as coach," Mashaba said. "It is going to be a humdinger."

Mashaba said he had a lot of respect for Zimbabwe who, at regional level, have shown their prowess with a record four triumphs in the regional Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup.

"Zimbabwe have won four times; I think it is at an advantage. They have a plus but that does not mean it will be a walk in the park,” he said.

The Warriors prepared for the match by beating Malawi 2-1 in an international friendly match in Harare last week and coach Sunday Chidzambwa has picked his best side from the locally-based talent.

Captain Method Mwanjali is again expected to lead from the front and told the media on Thursday, after their last training session, that they were ready for battle. He said they were looking to take a comfortable lead back home and protect their status as COSAFA champions.

"I think the pressure is more on us than Swaziland because we have qualified for CHAN before and we are the Cosafa champions.

"But it is the wish of everyone who is in camp right now to go there and win because our aim is to qualify for next year’s finals in Sudan.

"If we fail to qualify, people will think that it was a fluke that we made it to the first CHAN competition.

"Definitely at the end of the day we also need to protect our reputation as the Cosafa Champions," Mwanjali said.

Dynamos target Zephaniah Ngodzo is also part of the team while another, Hwange playmaker Farai Vimisayi was dropped.

Bhekimpilo Ncube of Motor Action returns to the team and will fight for a midfield place with Thabani Kamusoko, who recently joined Dynamos from relegated Njube Sundowns.

Warriors squad: Edmore Sibanda, Washington Arubi, Gilbert Mapemba, Zephaniah Ngodzo, Daniel Veremu, Method Mwanjali, George Karimupfumbi, Ndumiso Khanye, Tafadzwa Rusike, Ali Sadiki, Elvis Meleka, Thabani Kamusoko, Ashley Rambanapasi, Cuthbert Malajila, Richard Mteki, Ramson Zhuwawo Bhekimpilo Ncube, Nyasha Mushekwi.