Bafana have flown across the Limpopo River to the Zimbabwean capital Harare for Group G opening qualifier being played at the National Sports Stadium.
The 13 previous meetings have seen each country win six with a solitary draw leaving the two Cosafa rivals level in previous encounters.
This will be only the third meeting being played at the National Sports Stadium.
The first-ever meeting between the two countries was on August 16, 1992 when Bafana received a rude awakening after being humbled 4-1 in a match in which Peter Ndlovu left Neil Tovey and Steve Komphela scratching their heads. With Doctor Khuamlo reduced to a pedestrian in midfield by his opposite number Willard Khumalo.
The late Sam Kambule scored a consolation goal for the Screamer Tshabalala-coached Bafana, who re-emerged just over a month before the trip to Harare.
Then in July 2000, Bafana again travelled to Harare for a 2002 World Cup qualifier.
Delron Buckley scored a brace, but the match was then abandoned immediately after his second goal following crowd trouble which left 13 fans dead.
It was a dark day in which missiles flew onto the pitch with police reacting by firing teargas in what was a dark day for Zimbabwean football.
16 August 1992
Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group 5
National Stadium, Harare
Zimbabwe 4 (Takawira 8, Gumbo 19, P Ndlovu 49pen, 58)
South Africa 1 (Kambule 21)
24 April 1993
African Nations Cup qualifying group 5
Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa 1 (Maponyane 6)
Zimbabwe 1 (Nkonjera 82)
24 April 1994
International friendly
Independence Stadium, Mmabatho
South Africa 1 (P Masinga 76)
Zimbabwe 1-0
26 November 1995
Four Nations Cup
Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa 2 (Bartlett 20, 78)
Zimbabwe 0
16 June 1999
International friendly
Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa 0
Zimbabwe 1 (Shereni 24)
29 July 2000
Cosafa Castle Cup semi-final
Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
South Africa 0
Zimbabwe 1 (Tembo 11)
5 May 2001
World Cup qualifying group E
Soccer City, Johannesburg
South Africa 2 (Bartlett 17, McCarthy 39)
Zimbabwe 1 (P Ndlovu 53pen)
19 July 2003
Cosafa Castle Cup quarter-final
Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London
South Africa 0
Zimbabwe 1 (Muhoni 15)
11 March 2008
International friendly
Germiston Stadium, Johannesburg
South Africa 2 (Ngcobo 73, Matola og 91)
Zimbabwe 1(Mushangazike 11)
27 January 2010
International friendly
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
South Africa (Tshabalala 50, Mbuyane 77, Thwala 90)
Zimbabwe 0
15 November 2011
International friendly
Rufaro Stadium, Harare
Zimbabwe 2 (Musona 53, 61)
South Africa 1 (Grobler 29)
10 September 2013
International friendly
Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg
South Africa 1 (Parker 90)
Zimbabwe 2 (Musona 51 Malajila 90)