Percy Tau will be a key player for injury-ravaged South Africa when they take on Nigeria in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday.
The Belgium-based star says it is about time that the national team returned to major international tournaments on a regular basis.
The forward was not part of the squad when Bafana Bafana played at the 2015 Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea, the only time they have qualified for the continental showpiece in a decade, not including when they appeared in 2013 as hosts.
And it has been 16 years since they qualified for the World Cup in 2002, again notwithstanding their 2010 appearance as hosts.
A victory over Nigeria at the FNB Stadium would secure Bafana's passage to Cameroon next June-July, while a draw might also be enough if Libya failed to get a win on a difficult surface in the Seychelles. Tau believes it is high time they fulfilled their potential.
"The squad is good enough, we just have to get the goals," Tau told KweséESPN. "We want to go to Afcon, it is one of the biggest tournaments for the national team and we want to be part of that.
"It's about time that we participate a lot more in these types of tournaments. I'm confident that we will do that, but we have to get the goals. There is still a lot of teamwork that has to be done, but the squad is good enough."
Tau has emerged as the lead forward with Bafana in the last two years and has six goals in 15 caps, including three in his last five appearances.
"I'm happy, but there still has to be progress. I always find pleasure seeing goals and assists because that shows good progress and I would like that to keep happening," he said.
He has a new strike partner in Strasbourg youngster Lebo Mothiba, who has hit the international scene with a bang with three goals in his first four caps. Mothiba has continued scoring in Ligue 1 this season and Tau says he is excited by their partnership.
"With Lebo, we are proud that he has got to a new club where he has been scoring goals, which he was also doing at his last club [Lille]," Tau says.
"It's a good move for him, the most important thing is to hit the ground running and that reflects well on him and us.
"From the national team perspective, we love to see him score and if he can continue to do that then we will play in the major tournaments."
Tau is no ordinary player and has built a reputation for trying things on the pitch that other players would not even attempt.
He says he often visualises things in his mind before matches and then tries to pull them off, with his favourites moment being an assist for former Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Khama Billiat last season.
His flick and cross to set up the goal for the Zimbabwe international left the entire Cape Town City defence flat-footed, so unexpected was the move.
"I have got a lot of images in my mind and sometimes they come out on the pitch. The one that I always had was the assist gave Khama against Cape Town City. Sometimes the imagination comes out well on the pitch."
His goal against Korean Side Jeonbuk Motors at the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup was also a special moment, such was its quality.
"I'll always remember that because I don't know if I will ever go back to the Club World Cup so it is one I will keep in my memory."
But it is not his favourite, that was a mazy run against Free State Stars that ended with a sublime finish.
"There are a lot of goals that stand out, if I had to choose ... it is tough because you always think winning goals are more important than other goals.
"The one I enjoyed the most was against Free State Stars, I got a good pass from Thapelo [Morena] and I went on a long run. It is one I love to watch again."