Bloemfontein Celtic and AmaZulu settled for a share of the spoils with a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon.
Captain Ndumiso Mabena and Tumelo Njoti and Jackson Mabokgwane headlined Celtic's line-up, with Usuthu coach Benni McCarthy recalling veterans Tsepo Masilela and Lehlohonolo Majoro.
Siwelele Sa Masele were pinned back by the visitors ten minutes from the start as Siyethemba Sithebe watched his rasping shot from close-range parried away by Mabokgwane.
The momentum soon balanced out as the half-hour mark approached, with Siwelele charging forward through the middle and out wide through Mabena.
Usuthu though continued to carve out clear openings around the area shortly thereafter through Sithebe, but Mabokgwane once again thwarted.
However, Siwelele broke the deadlock against the run of play on 33 minutes when Mzwanele Mahashe managed to get on the end of a free-kick to head home.
Celtic should've doubled their lead nine minutes later from the penalty spot, but Mabena ballooned over the top after going down from a challenge in the area by Masilela.
Both sides opted for changes following the start of the second half, as Siphelele Luthuli replaced Njoti on the side of Celtic and Talent Chawapihwa filling in for Luvuyo Memela.
Celtic had another chance to double their lead inside the 60th minute through Victor Letsoalo, but he directed Mabena's cross from the right-side over the top.
That missed chance was punished four minutes later when Augustine Mulenga beat a cluster of challenges in the area before cracking into the top corner.
Both sides got openings for the winner in the closing minutes, however a stalemate was how the match concluded between the two outfits.
Confirmed line-ups:
Celtic: Mabokgwane, Fikizolo, Chabalala, Mahashe, Lingwati, Pfumbidzai, Phalane, Mashikinya, Letsoalo, Mabena, Njoti.
Subs: Chaine, Matjila, Koebdi, Mangweni, Ncobeni, Potsane, Tchilimbou, Mofokeng, Luthuli.
AmaZulu: Mbatha, Sikhakhane, Masilela,Mzava, Gumede, Ncube, Sithebe, Mlambo, Memela, Mulenga, Majoro.
Subs: Mothwa, Boshoff, Khumalo, Xoki, Booysen, Mahlambi, Magubane, Ntsundwana, Chawapihwa