Matsatsantsa looking to avoid TTM banana skin

SuperSport United will continue their quest for a fourth Nedbank Cup title when they face TTM in a quarter-final encounter at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Friday.

Kick-off is at 7pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

Matsatsantsa last won the competition in 2017 when they beat Orlando Pirates 4-1 in the final to lift the trophy for the second year in succession under Stuart Baxter.

Kaitano Tembo's side kicked off their title challenge with a 1-0 victory over DStv Premiership rivals Maritzburg United in the round of 32, although they needed an 89th-minute goal from Iqraam Rayners to knock out the Team of Choice.

Their round-of-16 tie against Platinum City Rovers was less nervy as Selaelo Rasebotja scored in the opening minute to send the GladAfrica Championship outfit packing with a 1-0 win.

The Pretoria giants aren't in the best form at the moment after a 1-1 draw with Chippa United on Tuesday extended their winless run in the league to four games.

Tembo stressed the importance of the cup run to the club as they are still in with a chance of picking up silverware this season, but he's aware that Vhadau Vha Damani won't make it easy for them to advance to the semifinals.

"This game is very important to us because it gives us an opportunity to finish the season with silverware," he said. "We are going to go all out though it will mean we have played three games in the space of seven days, and that's a bit taxing.

"But at the same time, I think it's an opportunity for our players to show what they have in terms of character, because a game like that is not going to be easy as we are playing against a team that has done well so far to get to this stage."

TTM began their cup journey by seeing off Cape Town All Stars 2-1 in the qualifying round before claiming the top-flight scalp of Golden Arrows via penalties in the round of 32 following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Lucky Nelukau's charges overcame a potentially tricky test by dispatching ABC Motsepe League opponents Sinenkani in the previous round to set up a meeting with SuperSport in the last eight.