Kaizer Chiefs returned to winning ways in the Betway Premiership after defeating Richards Bay FC 2-1 on Wednesday evening.
Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen made his first start of the season in place of Fabrice Ntwari, as Ashley Du Preez, Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Pule Mmodi were also given rare starts.
Mmodi had a golden chance to get the opening five minutes gone with a snap effort from a decent angle, but he unfortunately fired off the side-netting.
Chiefs continued to probe and were rewarded around the midway stage when a ball in from the wide channels saw Wandile Duba capitalise to give the host the lead with his first league goal.
The Amakhosi weren't done going on the attack and fancied more a few minutes after going ahead but Bradley Cross blazed his effort horribly wide with the net gaping.
Brandon Truter's men looked to claw level a little to the halftime break with a good number of forward movements but Petersen held his lines.
Chiefs were on the back-foot two minutes from halftime after Reeve Frosler saw red for a poor challenge and forced his side to play with ten players for the remainder of the match.
The situation urged the host to the bench and introduced a substitution in the form of Dillon Solomons who came on for Mmodi.
Solomons could've had a perfect entry through a probing effort from a free-kick around the area, but he strayed wide.
Richards Bay looked to get in gear after a quiet spell and nearly levelled where a cross by former Chiefs man Siyethemba Sithebe saw Simphiwe Mcineka head wide.
The Amakhosi snatched complete control towards the closing stages and extended the lead when Du Preez finished a perfectly placed through ball from Yusuf Maart.
Chiefs were given more opportunities late on to add to the tally, but the likes of Maart and substitute Christian Saile fluffed their lines.
Forward Yanela Mbuthuma got a consolation in the dying minutes when he jumped on the end of a cross from Lwandile Mabuya to head in.
The Amakhosi sustained the closing minutes to fulltime and ended up with the maximum points to return to winning ways.
Confirmed line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen, Frosler, Msimango, Dortley, Cross, Maart, Mthethwa, Shabalala, Duba, Mmodi, Du Preez
Subs: Bvuma, Ditlhokwe, Solomons, Blom, Zwane, Sirino, Vilakazi, Chivaviro, Saile
Richards Bay: Otieno, Allan, Ndaba, Mabua, Mcineka, Mhlongo, Mabuya, Mthembu, Ndelu, Mbuthuma, Ntsundwana.
Subs: Magoola, Gcaba, Ntlonelo, Dube, Sithebe, Figareido, Gumede, Buthelezi