Japan are likely to find 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa tougher rivals in Port Elizabeth Saturday than the last opponents they faced from the 'dark continent'.

The 'Blue Samurai' romped to a 5-0 victory at home last month against Togo, who arrived late with an ill-prepared squad for a friendly in which striker Shinji Okazaki scored a hat-trick.

Europe-based Takayuki Morimoto and Keisuke Honda were the other scorers, but the former will miss the clash with Bafana Bafana (The Boys) owing to a right ankle sprain.

Among four definite Asian qualifiers for the next World Cup with Australia, North Korea and South Korea, Japan slipped quietly into the southern coastal city this week only to become embroiled in a media storm.

Tokyo reports claimed Japanese players had been instructed not to leave their hotel after dark for fear of being attacked in a country with a murder rate of nearly 50 per day.

Furious South African officials led by leading 2010 World Cup figure Danny Jordaan demanded an explanation from the Japanese and were told the report was fabricated.

"The Japanese national team said the reports were complete nonsense and do not know where the allegations came from," Jordaan told local reporters ahead of the fixture at 2010 venue Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

"Our visitors said they are actually having such a wonderful time in South Africa they have decided to extend the stay by a day before fulfilling an Asian Cup qualifier in Hong Kong."

Jordaan was stunned by the reports as Japan backed South Africa in the bidding war for the first World Cup to be staged in Africa which they won 14-10 against Morocco.

While Japan boast a settled squad under coach Takeshi Okada eight months ahead of the football showpiece, South Africa will have a new coach as they try to stem a flood of eight defeats in the last nine games.

Experienced Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira led his homeland to the 1994 World Cup title and has also guided Asian qualifiers Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia at the tournament.

It will be the second spell in charge of South Africa for 66-year-old Parreira after quitting in May last year to be with his ill wife in Rio de Janeiro.

His first step on returning was to recall controversial striker Benni McCarthy, axed by another Brazilian, Joel Santana, ahead of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup for shunning a friendlies call-up.

The leading South Africa scorer with 31 goals, McCarthy said he wanted to make a fresh start as he attempts to rekindle his career.

"I am probably one of the few strikers in the world who just needs one chance in the penalty box to find the back of the net. I do it all the time in training so why not in Port Elizabeth?," he warned Japan.