Holders Orlando Pirates and Cape Town City played to a 1-1 draw in their MTN8 semi-final first leg on Wednesday evening.
The Buccaneers were unchanged from Friday's 4-0 victory over Disciples in the CAF Champions League, while City started former Pirates man Fortune Makaringe and gave a debut to new signing Prins Tjiueza.
Makaringe aimed to get one over his former team a couple of minutes from kick-off through a speculative shot from way out, but it fizzled wide of the mark.
The defending champions took the lead in the 15th minute after starlet Relebohile Mofokeng beat Thamsanqa Mkhize to get on the end of Thabiso Sesane's long-ball and fired past Darren Keet.
Namibian-born Tjiueza nearly levelled it up two minutes later when he fired in a teasing shot from a decent position though was unfortunately denied by the crossbar.
The chances didn't stop coming for the host who had a pin-point header by Darwin Gonzalez off a cross by Jaedin Rhodes draw Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine to a save.
Pirates were put to work immediately after halftime where a charging Chaine needed to rush out of his area to court a lurking Tjiueza.
The Citizens continued to have the momentum and were rewarded in the 61th minute through a well-taken finish from Rhodes after the Buccaneers fluffed their lines.
Rhodes targeted another in no less than minutes with a first-time effort from a promising position, but Chaine pulled off a save.
Coach Jose Riveiro added fresh set of legs over a quarter-hour played in the second half which had Mofokeng make way for Makhehlene Makhaula.
Angolan international Gilberto, who joined in the off-season, was shown his debut by the Sea Robbers – replacing Monnapule Saleng.
No further goals came from either side and all square it finished, with a lot to play for in the return-leg over the weekend.
Confirmed line-ups:
Cape Town City: Keet, Mkhize, Cupido, Petrus, Nyama, Mokotjo, Tijueza, Domingo, Rhodes, Makaringe, Gonzalez.
Subs: Oliaro, Ziba, Fisher, Frances, Goedeman, Sereetsi, Slatsha, Ahshene, Amato
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Monyane, Sesane, Ndah, Hotto, Mbatha, Dlamini, Maswanganyi, Saleng, Mofokeng, Mabasa
Subs: Buthelezi, Rasebotja, Maela, Makhaula, Sibisi, Timm, Kimvuidi, Makgopa, Gilberto.