Can Maritzburg United put an end to Kaizer Chiefs’ nine-game unbeaten run when the two sides meet in the Telkom Knockout Cup semi-final on Sunday?

The Glamour Boys are set to travel to the Mbombela Stadium to face the Team of Choice as both sides battle it out for a place in the final, where they will face either Mamelodi Sundowns or Golden Arrows.

The match is set to kick off at 3pm.

Kaizer Chiefs

Amakhosi will be without the services of three players, including Daniel Akpeyi and Willard Katsande, who picked up their fourth yellow card, while Eric Mathoho was red-carded in the Soweto derby.

Chiefs made their way into the last four of the competition after claiming a 6-4 win on penalties over rivals Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in the quarter-finals.

Speaking ahead of the clash coach Ernst Middendorp said: ‘It’s something we know – the next game against Maritzburg on the 24th of November, Daniel Akpeyi can’t play, so we have to go very clearly into it.

‘We don’t have Erick Mathoho available, so we have now time to look into it.

‘The first choice could have been Siyabonga Ngezana – unfortunately, he’s sitting somewhere in Egypt to do duties and service [with the U23 national team].

‘That’s definitely something after some days rest that we’ll go into before playing Maritzburg, looking into what their strong side is in terms of the set-up and elements, then we’ll try to prepare ourselves to be successful in that game.’

Maritzburg United

The Team of Choice will be without one of their players. Kwanda Mngonyama is serving his second match suspension after picking up two yellow cards, which resulted in a red against Pirates on 5 November.

Maritzburg made their way to this stage of the competition after defeating Highlands Park 5-4 on penalties at the Harry Gwala Stadium on 1 November.

Speaking ahead of the clash, coach Eric Tinkler said: ‘Kaizer Chiefs, no matter where they go‚ it’s a home game and I think their record at FNB Stadium isn’t that great.

‘Obviously we would have preferred to play them there but I like Mbombela. I think it’s a fantastic stadium.

‘The surface from the last time I saw a match being played which was against SuperSport United was great, the surface will be great and I think it helps us in terms of the brand of football we want to play. Obviously it will also help them, it will be an entertaining match and we know how strong they are.

‘They are having a great season. We know their confidence right now is very high but we need to go there and be brave, not play with fear.’