Bernard Parker's first half strike was enough to secure Kaizer Chiefs’ passage into the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.

With Itumeleng Khune still nursing an ankle injury, Stuart Baxter opted for Reyaad Pieterse in goal with Brilliant Khuzwayo falling to the bench.

Kgotso Moleko meanwhile started at right-back in place of the suspended Siboniso Gaxa while there was also a start for Siyabonga Nkosi in midfield.

Steve Komphela meanwhile opted against making any wholesale changes to the side that suffered a 1-0 league loss to the same opponents last weekend.

Ryan de Jongh returned to the starting XI for the Team of Choice while Thokozani Sekotlong had to settle for a place among the substitutes.

Kaizer Chiefs looked to stamp their authority early on, with Nkosi who has obvious intentions to impress, shooting narrowly wide from range in the fourth minute.

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The hosts opened the scoring in the 15th minute through Parker, who subsequently opened his account for the season. Siphiwe Tshabalala's pin-point cross was superbly met by Parker who bundled the ball past Virgil Vries with his chest.

Chances continued to come thick and fast for the hosts with Mandla Masango forcing Vries into a superb save six minutes later. Kingston Nkhata picked out the Bafana midfielder whose low drive was directed away from danger by the Maritzburg shot stopper.

Maritzburg's first chance fell to captain Ashley Hartog in the 24th minute. The former SuperSport man skipped past a sliding tackle before shooting at goal, Pieterse though was up to the task.

The Amakhosi continued to look threatening going forward, but it was Maritzburg who ended the half on the front foot with Hartog forcing Pieterse into another save three minutes before the break.

As the temperature started to fall so did the tempo of the game with neither side managing to trouble the opposition keeper in the opening 15 minutes of the second stanza.

Nkhatha should've doubled the hosts’ lead in the 78th minute, but he failed to hit the target from close range. The Zimbabwe international did so well to fight for possession but his finish let him down.

Maritzburg had a chance to send the game to extra-time through second-half substitute Terrance Mandaza, but the burly striker could only manage to direct his effort straight at the towering Pieterse.

Chiefs join Bidvest Wits, SuperSport Untied and Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinals.

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 0 (Parker 15')

Maritzburg United 0

Kaizer Chiefs: Pieterse; Moleko, Mashamaite, Gould, Masilela, Katsande, Nkosi (Mathoho 84'), Parker, Tshabalala, Masango (Mthembu 90’), Nkhatha (Letsholonyane 84')

Maritzburg United: Vries; Mngonyama, Banda (Sekotlong 67'), Pantsil, Matuka, De Jongh, Awal, Hartog, Mabaso, Cele (Mandaza 80'), Anas (Mokate 67')