EVERTON midfielder Steven Pienaar will return to South Africa’s starting line-up for their make or break clash with New Zealand in the Confederations Cup today.

Illness limited the 27-year-old to a late substitute appearance in the host nation’s disappointing goalless draw with Iraq on Sunday and he was sorely missed.

But Pienaar is back firing on all cylinders and determined to help secure victory over the Kiwis to keep alive their hopes of a semi-final spot.

"I was ill the whole week, that’s why I started on the bench, but I feel much better now and things should be okay," Pienaar said.

"We are definitely disappointed because we expected a lot from the game against Iraq.

"If you can get three points in the opening game, it normally takes a lot of pressure off a team. But it was difficult for the guys to break them down.

"Now we have our backs against the wall. But we just have to stay focused and there are still two games, so we’ll have to give everything."

In-form Spain are aiming for a place in the international record books when they face Iraq in their next Confederations Cup clash today.