A third successive Nedbank Cup title is in Orlando Pirates sights, as the Last 32 round of the 2024-25 edition is held from Friday 24 to Wednesday 29 January.
Pirates, who won the 2023 and 2024 Nedbank Cup titles, are looking to emulate their own achievement from 1973 to 1975 when they became the first and thus far only team to win three National Cup titles in a row.
The Buccaneers have had the benefit of facing lower-league opposition in the early rounds in the past two years, but this time around they will come up against a fellow top-flight club first up, as they take on Richards Bay at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Soweto giants are fresh from an impressive away triumph over Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League last weekend, while Bay have failed to win any of their last three matches, most recently slumping to a 2-1 defeat away to Cape Town City.
Nonetheless, Natal Rich Boyz captain Simphiwe Mcineka believes his team is capable of upsetting the defending champions.