AmaZulu FC will lock horns with Kaizer Chiefs in a DStv Premiership match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.
Kick-off is at 7.30pm CAT.
Usuthu are licking their wounds after their five-match unbeaten run in the league was ended by their provincial rivals, Royal AM, who emerged as 2-0 winners in their KwaZulu-Natal clash last weekend.
The KwaZulu-Natal giants are currently placed 12th on the DStv Premiership standings - two points behind fifth-placed Royal AM and they will move back into the top eight if they secure a win over Chiefs.
Romain Folz, the AmaZulu head coach, has described their match against Chiefs as a must-win encounter, having suffered his first game in charge of Usuthu last Sunday.
“We need to win. We have the game in front of us, they’re going to try to win as much as we want to win," Folz said.
"So, it’s going to be a matter of who’s the best team on that day, we're going to try to be that team. It’s not going to be an easy game.
"But we’ll make sure it’s not an easy game for them.”
Meanwhile, Chiefs are also wounded having seen their three-match unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership come to an end when they marked their 53rd anniversary celebrations with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Sekhukhune United last weekend.
The Soweto giants are, however, still placed fourth in the league standings - three points behind second-placed SuperSport United and two points behind third-placed Richards Bay coming into the clash against AmaZulu.
Yusuf Maart, the Chiefs midfielder, is confident that they will defeat AmaZulu in what will be the fourth meeting between the two teams this season with the three games having ended in a draw.
“I said that (we drew three times against AmaZulu) to Ashley (Du Preez), but he told me not to worry, he is positive. When we go there, we’ll win for sure," Maart said.
“They lost their last game and so did we. Both of us need the points, so we are going to have to want it more than them.
"Even though it is their home game, we are going to come with more effort and make sure we get the points."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
AmaZulu:
Hendrick Ekstein: The experienced midfielder was one of AmaZulu's better players during their clash against Royal AM. Ekstein's passing ability and vision could be key to an AmaZulu win over his former club.
Sere Junior Dion: The Ivorian marksman has walked straight into the AmaZulu starting line-up after joining the club in the current transfer window and he will be keen to use his physicality to unsettle the Chiefs defence.
Kaizer Chiefs:
Keagan Dolly: The experienced attacker has blown hot and cold this term, but he remains a key player in coach Zwane's side. Dolly's delivery from set-pieces will pose a threat to AmaZulu and he can also score from free-kicks.
Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana: The towering marksman was let down by some poor finishing during the match against Sekhukhune and he will be eager to regain his scoring touch when he faces a wounded Usuthu side