Amazulu will be looking to secure a Top 8 finish in their Betway Premiership clash against Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Usuthu are currently in sixth position on the league table and are one point away from qualifying for next season’s MTN8 tournament.
The KwaZulu-Natal outfit recovered from a disappointing start to the season under former Spanish head coach Pablo Franco Martin, who parted ways with the club at a time where they were in the Betway Premiership relegation zone.
The Spaniard was replaced with a co-coaching unit, Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi, who managed to gradually lift the team off the bottom of the table before Vilakazi parted ways with the club, citing personal issues.
Arthur “10111” Zwane then took over and has managed to lead the team to sixth position, with the guarantee of a fifth place finish if they win their final encounter against Orlando Pirates.
However, AmaBhakabhaka, have not lost to Amazulu in their last 18 consecutive league fixtures since the 2013/14 season, thanks to a solitary strike from striker Bongani Ndulula, who ironically played for both clubs during his top-flight career.
The Soweto giants, now led by interim head coach Mandla Ncikazi, will be confident of another victory following their gritty midweek 1-0 win over SuperSport United. However, they will be without Salelo Rasebotja, who has undergone surgery after tearing his ACL.
Pirates talisman and former AmaZulu star Makhehleni Makhaula will also miss the fixture due to an injury sustained in the Nedbank Cup final loss against Kaizer Chiefs.
Both teams will be missing defensive players for this clash due to suspension, with in-form Bucs right-back Bandile Shandu and Usuthu’s utility defender Mbongeni Gumede missing after picking up foruth yellow cards in their last respective clashes.
The last clash between the side’s saw AmaBhakaniya emerge 2-1 winners, thanks to a wonderful brace by youngster Mohau Nkota.
A victory for the Mayfair-based team will further extend their record for the most wins in a single Premiership season to 20 and complete their unbeaten run since the early departure of Al Ahly-bound coach Jose Riveiro.
Kick off is at 15h00.