Kaizer Chiefs reserves have received a huge boost ahead of their DStv Diski Challenge match against TS Galaxy on Saturday.
The two teams will play the opening match of the weekend festival that will be played at Wits Football on Saturday and Sunday, starting from 10am CAT until late.
Chiefs will have their head coach, Vela Khumalo on the bench for the first time in four weeks. Khumalo was last in charge of the team on 1 October when they defeated Marumo Gallants 1-0.
He then went on national duty with the under-20 national team in Eswatini for the Cosafa Cup. When he returned, he joined the under-23 national team as coach David Notoanes's assistant coach in the Afcon qualifier.
"I will be back on the bench this weekend alongside my assistant coach David Mathebula and Tshdidiso Letssholonyane who held the reins in my absence," Khumalo confirmed.
"I started training the boys on Wednesday and they were so happy to see me back."
Khumalo will not be the only person re-joining the team. There will also be four players, Samkelo Zwane, Omega Mdaka, Aden McCarthy and Kgaugelo Ramushu, returning.
The quartet were also part of the SA under-23 team that qualified for the next and final round of the Afcon qualifiers after winning a two-legged fixture against Togo on the away goal rule on Sunday.
On their opponent in what will be the last Diski Challenge festival for the year, Khumalo said they anticipate a tough clash against coach Ashley Makhanya's charges.
Amakhosi are heading to this match sitting eighth on the log while TS Galaxy are at the bottom of the table.
Khumalo said: "It will be very difficult. TS Galaxy, look at how they are playing. They are not a bad team. They play very good football, it's just that they have not been getting results.
"So let us not be deceived by where they're standing in the log. I will work on the players' minds to make sure they do not underestimate them. But it will be a good game between the two sides."
The return of McCarthy, Ramushu and Mdaka will play a substantial role in Chiefs' defence that has been leaking goals.
Last week it was a comedy of errors at the back for Amakhosi when they allowed Royal AM to come from behind three times to play to a 3-3 draw at Princess Magogo Stadium.