Clubs from all tiers of domestic football shift focus this week from league competition duties to the Nedbank Cup, where 32 teams will compete to be crowned champions for this year, with the added bonus of qualifying for next season’s CAF Confederations Cup.

When the draw was conducted last month at the bank’s headquarters in Sandton, Amakhosi were pitted away against Maritzburg United.

The teams have met once already season, at FNB Stadium where Chiefs recorded a 3-0 victory in the opening match of the DStv Premiership campaign in August.

Since then, there have been notable changes in the coaching and playing personnel departments at the Team of Choice, with John Maduka being replaced by Fadlu Davids. They also bolstered their playing squad by adding some talent during the January transfer window.

Both Chiefs and Maritzburg United drew their most recent league matches, against TS Galaxy and AmaZulu, respectively.

With the knockout cup competition requiring a winner from each match, Amakhosi and the Team of Choice will go all out to ensure that they are the ones to advance to the round of 16.

Chiefs hold the record of winning the Nedbank Cup more times that any team in the league and are looking to lift the trophy for the 14^th time.

Tickets for the match are on sale through TicketPros at www.ticketpros.co.za and various outlets, including Spar and Boxer Supermarkets, Sasol garages and Postnet outlets, at a cost of R40.

Maritzburg United will welcome Amakhosi to the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday at 19:30.