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Defending champions Orlando Pirates will play little known Ethekwini Coastal FC in the opening round of the Nedbank Cup.

Defending champions Orlando Pirates will play little known Ethekwini Coastal FC in the opening round of the Nedbank Cup.

The tournament features 16 Premier Soccer League teams and 16 other teams from lower divisions.

The Buccaneers whose league form has left them seven points off leaders Sundowns at the halfway stage of the season, will be looking to build on their cup success this season, and the trip to the KwaZulu-Natal side should not present Julio Leal's charges any problems.

Pirates tasted cup success this season as they beat Wits 3-1 in the Telkom Knockout final in December.

In the only two all-premiership clashes, Maritzburg United will host Bloemfontein Celtic and Moroka Swallows will be at home to Wits.

Thulani Sibeko, head of marketing for Nedbank, explained the unique format of the competition.

“Known as the South African FA Cup, the Nedbank Cup gives eight amateur teams from the Safa ranks and the NFL ranks the opportunity to play on the biggest stage.”

Premier Soccer League CEO Stanley Matthews said the tournament provided the chance for some of the smallest teams to play the premier sides in the country.

One team is still to be decided in a Safa playoff on February 18. The draw:

(home teams listed first) Lamontville Golden Arrows v North West Shining Stars FC Ethekwini Coastal FC v Orlando Pirates Free State Stars v Sivutsa Stars Santos FC v The University of Pretoria (Tuks) Maritzburg United v Bloemfontein Celtic Roses United FC v Bay United Safa playoff winner v United FC (Kimberley) Batua FC v SuperSport United African Warriors v Jomo Cosmos Moroka Swallows v Bidvest Wits Mpumalanga Black Aces v Witbank Spurs Kaizer Chiefs v Cape Town All Stars Platinum Stars v Dolphins FC Black Leopards v Blackburn Rovers AmaZulu FC v Ajax Cape Town Powerlines FC v Mamelodi Sundowns – Sapa