DURBAN - History is against Kwa-Zulu-Natal's (KZN) teams as they head into their clashes against the Soweto giants this weekend in the Telkom Knockout.
Golden Arrows and AmaZulu host Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday afternoon and evening respectively, no doubt aware of the heavy odds they have to overcome to progress to the next stage.
AmaZulu, who are the only KZN team to have won the tournament, face Chiefs as the away team at the Moses Mabhida Stadium at 8.15pm.
Ironically, Usuthu beat Amakhosi back in 1992 to lift the country's version of the League Cup, known then as the Coca-Cola Cup. AmaZulu triumphed 3-1 then, a win they are yet to replicate - the Durban club failing to win any silverware since then.
Not only that, but AmaZulu are yet to beat Chiefs in a knockout competition in the Premier Soccer League era that was ushered in back in the second half of 1996.
Granted, the two teams have only met once in a cup competition. But it will not please any Usuthu fans to be reminded that the particular solitary meeting was in the self same Telkom Knockout and at this first round stage. Chiefs beat AmaZulu 2-0 in the 2010 competition.
As they go into Saturday's match, Usuthu will rely on the experience of former Chiefs strikers Siyabonga Nomvethe and Mabhudi Khenyeza in their their bid to turn the tables on Amakhosi.
The duo propelled AmaZulu to a 2-1 win at Mamelodi Sundowns at the weekend.
Another KZN team that is facing a tough task of turning the tables is Lamontville Golden Arrows. Abafana Bes'thende host Orlando Pirates at Princes Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu.
The sides have met five times in cup competitions and all ended in victory for the Buccaneers. Four of their clashes were in the Telkom Knockout,.
In 2010 Pirates beat them 1-0 in the first round. The following year the Bucs won 3-1 in the semifinal and they encountered each other again in 2012 with Pirates clobbering Arrows 5-0 in the first round.
Last season, Pirates won 2-1 at the first stage of the Telkom and then 1-0 in the Nedbank Cup semis.
But Arrows are unbeaten in the league after nine outings and will fancy their chances of upsetting a Pirates side blowing hot and cold.