Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Zambia's Emmanuel Mayuka celebrates the goal he scored to take his side to the finals. (File Photo)

Uganda Cranes coach Bobby Williamson's primary concern will be designing a strategy that will make up for the absence of injured strikers Geoffrey Massa and Brian Umony.

His side is preparing for a clash with Zambia in next weekend's potential Nations Cup qualifier.

He will however be in position to fully experiment and decide on the right options following the arrival of striker Hamis Diego Kiiza who joined the team's other two out-and-out strikers Robert Ssentongo and Emmanuel Okwi.

In the event that Mike Sserumagga is considered a support forward, Ssentongo and Kiiza will have to work extremely hard to justify reason of starting ahead of favourite Okwi.

In the absence of Massa and Umony during Cranes' trip to Angola in June, Okwi led the team's attack successfully, scoring the all-important goal that earned Uganda a priceless 1-1 draw against the Palancas Negros.

Under the sweltering temperatures at Namboole Stadium, the Cranes on Friday embarked on a rigorous training regime geared towards maximizing fitness levels ahead of the meet with the Chipolopolos.

Contrary to the build-up for the World Cup qualifier against Angola in June, where fitness was such a major concern, Williamson seemed pleased that this time a majority of the squad have had serious match practice with either their respective clubs or with the Cranes in Botswana.

On Friday, the Scot was in position to look at 14 players, who took part in a session that looked at fitness, dribbling and movement within restricted areas.