When Orlando Pirates step onto the 33 000-capacity Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny pitch on Saturday, two of the side's starting line-up players will be in somewhat familiar territory.
Pirates will exchange fire with Ivorian outfit Stade d'Abidjan as they reach the halfway mark of their CAF Champions League group stage journey, seeking a victory to move them a step closer to a spot in the knockout stages.
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So far, the home side have been the whipping boys of Group C, losing their opening match to Egyptian giants Al Ahly 4-2, before succumbing to CR Belouizdad of Algeria with a 1-0 deficit last weekend.
Amidst all of the permutations, there is the small matter of the match venue, which is where Bafana Bafana played their third-place play-off match against DR Congo during the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
This is the game that ensured Hugo Broos' men returned with a bronze medal from the biennial tournament, having lost in the semifinals via the agony of a penalty shootout to long-time rivals Nigeria after a 1-1 extra-time scoreline.
A visibly fatigued Bafana side would prevail over DR Congo 6-5 on penalties, after the drab affair ended goalless following 120 minutes of football.
Notably, the Buccaneers duo of Nkosinathi Sibisi and Evidence Makgopa made it onto the line-up that day, though the latter was hauled off after 58 minutes to make way for Oswin Appollis.
Of note is that Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny hosted 10 matches during the AFCON.
With 21 975 fans in attendance, Bafana's tie against Sebastien Desabre's men came fourth on the list of fixtures to have attracted the most spectators at the venue.
On that evening of 10 February, 21 975 fans filed in to see the impressive Bafana, who had dispatched tournament favourites Morocco in the Round of 16, strut their stuff.
Only matches involving Egypt, with the obvious pulling power of Mohamed Salah, had more numbers in the stands, coupled with the blockbuster Last 16 match-up between powerhouses Nigeria and Cameroon.
The Pharaohs' exciting 2-2 draw against Mozambique saw 32 592 attendees, while the North African giants' encounter against Ghana – another 2-2 stalemate – garnered 20 808 pairs of eyes within close proximity.
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The Super Eagles v Indomitable Lions showdown, which was won by the former by 2-0, had 22 085 fans in attendance.
Sibisi and Makgopa were in the starting line-up in both of Pirates' Champions League group stage fixtures, against Belouizdad and Al Ahly respectively, and would welcome another such opportunity on Saturday for more than one reason.
Kick-off is at 18:00 SA time.