While Arthur Sales has missed just one fixture, Thapelo Morena had been sidelined for the last four matches.
Sundowns have managed to maintain their form in the Betway Premiership without the pair but the duo returned to action for Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Durban City where Katlego Ntsabeleng scored the only goal.
The Brazilians are next in league action at home to Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday 22 April but before then they face ES Tunis over two legs in their CAF Champions League semi-final.
Cardoso said it was important to have his key players available as they chase a ninth successive league win and their second Champions League title.
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“Look, there’s impact when you play so many matches. And if you look at the squad and the bench and the players, you understand that there are very important players that were not here,” said Cardoso on iDiski times.
“And important players that just came back. Arthur played the first time today. Morena played the first time.
“So it means that the aggression that we’ve been suffering has been having impact on the team. Of course, the fact that other boys raced for the level is very important.
“But you look at the bench, and in some moments I wanted to put something and I was a little bit in doubt how to take that, in which direction to take the game.
“But I count on the ones that exist always permanently to have the right attitude. And let’s be resilient so that we can move forward in the right way.”