New signee William Twala has been included in the squad to travel to Bloemfontein where Amakhosi will take on Bloemfontein Celtic in an Absa Premiership league match.

Coach Steve Komphela revealed this after Kaizer Chiefs’ final practice session ahead of the encounter which will take place at Free State Stadium on Sunday, 17 January (kick-off is at 15:30).

Komphela brimmed with confidence ahead of their trip: “We have gone through the preparations very well.”

In head-to-head stats, Celtic and Chiefs have met in 55 league matches since 1985. The Amakhosi have claimed 31 wins compared to 10 for Phunya Sele Sele, while 14 matches have been drawn.

Celtic have won eight of their 27 home matches against Chiefs, suffering eight defeats in the process.

“It is going to be another tough encounter,” the Free State-born Komphela looks ahead with supreme confidence to the fixture. “As always we anticipate an exciting match against Celtic. We will give them the respect they deserve, but we travel with one thing in mind, and that’s the three points.”

Encounters between the two sides often result in close shaves considering that last season the Amakhosi took four points off Phunya Sele Sele, winning 1-0 at home before drawing 0-0 away in the return game.

George Lebese’s knee injury will be assessed for readiness overnight while Lucky Baloyi has recovered, but he has been given time off to become fully match fit again.

The Amakhosi go into the encounter placed fourth on the Absa Premiership log with 22 points from 13 matches while Celtics are seventh on the log.