Kaizer Chiefs jumped back in the top eight despite battling to a 1-1 draw against AmaZulu in the DStv Premiership on Sunday evening.
The Amakhosi brought back Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Sifiso Hlanti, Zitha Kwinika and Ashley Du Preez following the 2-2 draw with TS Galaxy in midweek.
Du Preez repaid the faith shown in him when he intercepted a pass across the defensive area and fired in from close-range after just two minutes played.
Chiefs had a chance to go further ahead later on with a curling free-kick from the area by Hlanti following a foul on Ranga Chivavirro, but Veli Mothwa dived across and palmed for a corner.
The host were urged to re-shuffle the playing personnel before the half-hour mark after a knock forced Ramahlwe Mphahlele to make way for Mbongeni Gumede.
Mduduzi Shabalala went close ten minutes to halftime as he came short on the edge of the area and pulled a cutback fire off the face of the upright.
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Usuthu regained momentum five minutes before the break where Victor Letsoalo sneaked in at the far post to head into the bottom-corner following a floated cross.
With the Amakhosi keen to restore the deficit, Usuthu weren't having any of it though but continued to push the Soweto giants to the edge to in-turn remain in the swing of things.
Former Chiefs star Hendrick Pule Ekstein came extremely close to putting the host ahead through a shot on-the-turn from outside the area, but Bruce Bvuma steered behind.
The visitors then saw an inviting opportunity a moment apart fell to Christian Saile to hit first-time, but Mothwa experienced no trouble.
Chiefs looked to energise the attack later on and decided to haul exciting youngster Mfundo Vilakazi on from the bench in place of Sibongiseni Mthethwa.
However, the Soweto giants weren't able to regain the lead as a pair of late saves from Mothwa forced them to settle for a 1-1 draw to move back in the top eight.
Confirmed line-ups:
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Jooste, Hanamub, Mphahlele, Fielies, Mobara, Motshwari, Ngema, Letsoalo, Mulenga, Ekstein
Subs: Mzimela, Ngobeni, Sikhakhane, Gumede, Brooks, Maluleka, Mbanjwa, Moremi, Kwem
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma, Kwinika, Nj. Ngcobo, Ditlhokwe ©, Hlanti, Mthethwa, Sithebe, Shabalala, Mmodi, Du Preez, Chivaviro
Subs: Khune, McCarthy, Jansen, Castillo, Zwane, Mashiane, Vilakazi, Saile, Gonzalez
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