AmaZulu jumped to eighth spot in the Betway Premiership with a 1-0 win over bottom-placed Magesi FC on Saturday afternoon.
Usuthu gave starts to goalkeeper Veli Mothwa and new Bongani Zungu, while Magesi restored Motsie Matima, Samuel Darpoh and Bafedile Baloyi after the draw at TS Galaxy.
The Carling Knockout kings targeted a quick start courtesy of a clever effort from close-range by Kayden Rademeyer, but he strayed well off the mark.
Usuthu didn't pose a greater deal of pressure on the home side as the likes of Etiosa Ighodaro, Tshepang Moremi, Mlondi Mbanjwa and Tshepo Mashigo were kept quiet in the final third.
Pressure by the visitors continued over the opening-quarter with a foul on Zungu leading to a free-kick, which Wayde Jooste drilled in and brought the best out of Magesi goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.
Magesi enjoyed a strong finish to the first half, with Rademeyer and Wonderboy Makhubu coming close in quick succession, but neither managed to get past Mothwa.
Changes by the visitors just before the resumption had Mbanjwa removed for Hendrick Ekstein before Rowan Human stepped on for Mashigo in a quest to grab ascendancy.
The move proved inspired as Ekstein got sight in the final third teed up Zungu to find the back of the net in pure style from around 25 yards out.
Magesi weren't as adventurous in the second period, with the visitors seeing lot of the momentum and very nearly doubled the tally through a probing effort from Jooste.
Usuthu coaches Vusumuzi Vilakazi and Arthur Zwane decided to gave new signing Sandile Mthethwa his debut from the bench and sacrificed Ighodaro as a result.
The lead wasn't under any threat as the KwaZulu-Natal charges walked away with the maximum points and left the host at the bottom of the table.
Confirmed line-ups:
Magesi FC: Chipezeze, Rademeyer, Kakora, Makgoga, Matima, Baloyi, Buthelezi, Abrahams, Mokone, Makhubu, Darpoh
Subs: Tshabalala, Masegeela, Moshwana, Mzava, Motupa, Ntmobela, Komape, Sekgota, Ndwandwe
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Jooste, Fielies, Mngonyama, Hanamub, Motshwari, Zungu, Mbanjwa, Moremi, Ighodaro, Mashigo
Subs: Ofori, Gumede, Mthethwa, Ngobeni, Brooks, Ngena, Haba, Ekstein, Human