SOCCER fans hoping to get an early taste of World Cup fever will have to book early for Saturday’s clash, as no tickets will be available at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on match day.

Bafana Bafana take on Japan at the 48000- seater North End stadium in an international friendly.

Tickets, at R30, are available at Computicket, Shoprite and Checkers outlets.

Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets early, as a capacity crowd is expected on match day.

Bafana coach Carlos Parreira’s first match back at the helm of the national team was last week moved from Johannesburg’s Rand Stadium to the Mandela Bay Stadium.

This came after it was agreed by the SA Football Association and the Fifa local organising committee that the venues for next year’s Fifa World Cup should be used for Bafana matches to test their readiness for next year’s tournament.

Both the Japanese and South African teams arrive in the city today. Japan will touch down at 11.55am, and Bafana at 6.05pm. The teams will be welcomed by Mayor Nondumiso Maphazi and 2010 Mandela Bay executive director Errol Heynes.

Kick-off for the match on Saturday will be at 3.30pm.