AmaZulu may not be at full strength for Saturday night's derby against Maritzburg United in the Nedbank Cup last 32 at Harry Gwala Stadium, but coach Neil Tovey is nevertheless confident of registering a quick knockout double over the "Team of Choice" and progressing to the next round.
Usuthu recorded their first ever victory over Maritzburg in the Telkom Knockout in Durban three weeks ago, but are currently without defender Warren Bishop, midfielder Thami Sangweni and goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela.
Bishop and Sangweni are both suspended after picking up their third yellow cards when their team lost to Ajax Cape Town in the semi-finals of the Telkom Knockout in Bloemfontein a fortnight ago, while Mzimela is out injured.
But Tovey says the rest of the team have trained well and are looking to go all the way in the Nedbank Cup, not least because the competition offers R6 million to the champions.
"We must just make sure we are up to the challenge. Maritzburg are a hard-running team and if we can match that, I'm pretty sure our better ability will see us through," said the coach.
A positive for the former Bafana Bafana captain is that midfielders Thabo Mabaso and Ntokozo Sikhakhane are back from suspension and injury respectively.
More good news for Usuthu is that Maritzburg have got striker Fadlu Davids out injured and goalkeeper, Shuaib Walters, is part of the Bafana Bafana training camp in Germany at present.
But coach Ernst Middendorp is looking forward to playing at home.
"I'm glad we have home advantage, there is always a good atmosphere and the players have the right feeling when they play at home," he said this week.
Also tonight, Golden Arrows clash with Moroka Swallows in Soweto. Arrows are without several influential players for various reasons, but can draw some confidence from the fact they have not lost away to Swallows in three seasons.
Arrows will miss striker Richard Henyekane, defender Siyabonga Sangweni, defender-cum-midfielder Musa Bilankulu, midfield anchor Thanduyise Khuboni and attacking midfielder Philani Shange, while Swallows do battle without striker, Siyabonga Nomvete.
However, Arrows captain Joseph Musonda says his men are confident of advancing to the next round.
Musonda said he expected the likes of Njabulo Manqana and Thokozani Mshengu to give them an edge in attack against a Swallows side who say they are determined to keep the trophy.
This is only the second ever Cup meeting between the clubs.
For tomorrow's big clash at Rand Stadium in Johannesburg, recently-crowned Telkom Knockout champions Kaizer Chiefs have got defender Thabang Rooi back from suspension, while SuperSport United will miss midfielder Brent Carelse through suspension.
Mamelodi Sundowns are without a whole host of players for various reasons, but should still have too much firepower for top amateur club Island FC at Ulundi, also tomorrow.
Last night
Nathi Lions 2 BidVest Wits 3
Today
Pretoria University v Vasco Da Gama
(LC De Villiers, 3pm)
M Tigers v Black Leopards
(Mehlareng Stadium, 3pm)
Ajax Cape Town v Wings United
(Newlands Stadium, 3pm)
Tower Utdv Free State Stars
(Botshabelo Stadium, 6pm)
Maritzburg Utdv AmaZulu
(Harry Gwala Stadium, 8.15pm)
Moroka Swallows v Golden Arrows
(Dobsonville Stadium, 8.15pm)
SantosL Jomo Cosmos L
Coetzenburg Stadium, 3pm)
Tomorrow
Mr Price Parkhurst v Winners Park
(Erica Park, 3pm)
FC Royals v MP Black Aces
(Dutywa Stadium/TBC)
Island FC v Mamelodi Sundowns
(Ulundi Stadium)
Ikapa Sporting v FC Cape Town
(Ajax Ikamva)
SuperSport Utd v Kaizer Chiefs
(Rand Stadium)