The Black Stars will play second-tier side Deportivo in a friendly today ahead of Sunday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against Sudan.

Head coach Kwesi Appiah will use the match as dress rehearsal to assess his players ahead of the tricky duel against the Nile crocodile at the Baba Yara stadium.

The game will also be used to monitor the sharpness of the team with players expected to give off their best to impress the trainer.

The squad has been reduced to 23 following the withdrawal of Porto winger Christian Atsu due to injury.

The Black Stars host Sudan in a must-win game in the country’s second largest city needing to win massively to revive their hopes of qualifying to the World Cup.