Zitha Kwinika is now set for what will weigh up as his worst season since returning to Kaizer Chiefs three years ago.
Kwinika has spent the season biting his nails in moving from the stands to the bench at best with Nasreddine Nabi not preferring to use him.
With the season meandering around the two thirds mark, he has only been on the field just once this season.
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The 31-year-old was brought in as a substitute with 14 minutes remaining in the game against Sekhukhune United in January.
Besides that, he has been an unused substitute on six occasions and for the rest of the season he hasn't been in the match-day squad.
Kwinika's appearance input at Chiefs has been on the drop from 28 in his first season to 18 last term and just one in the current campaign.
With only 11 games remaining, it means he will suffer another drop in his appearances even if Nabi decides to field him for the rest of the season.
What is worrying for Kwinika is that he now has a single substitute appearance in almost 10 months.
He is evidently not a preferred choice for Nabi in the two positions that he can play at central defence and right-back.
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On the right side of central defence, Chiefs have Inacio Miguel and Given Msimango as solid options, while at right-back there is the trio of Reeve Frosler, Dillan Solomons, and Njabulo Blom.
Of further concern is the issue of his contract, which is understood to be running up at the end of June.