AmaZulu FC and Sekhukhune United could not be separated as the sides played to a goalless draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Nyiko Mobbie, Justice Chabalala and Justin Shonga came into the Sekhukhune starting lineup, while Siphelele Mthembu and Philani zulu were ommited from the AmaZulu first eleven.
Usuthu were the side in control in the opening exchanges with Siphesihle Maduna looking particularly lively. In the 17th minute, his fizzed ball into the box in search of Luvuyo Memela missed the number 11 by inches.
Soon after, Tapelo Xoki's header was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Sekhukhune shot-stopper Toaster Nsabata from a corner.
Babina Noko had two opportunities before half-time. First, Justice Chabalála's header was saved in the top left corner after his central defensive partner had headed the ball back across goal from a cross to the back post.
And then Shonga showed his strength when he held the ball up well before teeing up Yusuf Maart, whose shot towards the bottom right corner was well saved by Usuthu goalkeeper Veli Mothwa.
It was a fairly uneventful beginning to the second half with the first decent attempt coming only in the 60th minute when Keagan Buchanan's powerful long-range effort grazed the top of the Sekhukhune crossbar.
Sekhukhune were playing a very physical game and committing plenty of fouls with the Usuthu bench not happy with their players' treatment.
Usuthu were struggling to find any openings and looked to add more creativity when they made a triple change five minutes before full-time bringing on Mthembu, Tshepang Moremi and Andre Jong but it failed to pay any dividends as the Durbanites were held to their 16th DStv Premiership draw of the season - the most of any side in the league.
Confirmed line-ups:
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Gumede, Kunene, Xoki, Mobara, Makhaula, Buchanan, Mlambo, Sikhakhane, Memela, Maduna
Subs: Boshoff, Moleko, Zulu, Khumalo, Malepe, Moremi, Ekstein, De Jong, Mthembu
Sekhukhune: Nsabata, Motsepe, Chabalala, Mobbie, Gyimah, Mahlangu, Kabwe, Maart, Molaba, Shonga, Ohizu.
Subs: Dlamini, Parusnath, Madonsela, Mncube, Katsande, Nxumalo, Ledwaba, Leepile, Mashumba.