George Maluleka will make his first start of the season when Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns kick-off tonight for what promises to be a thrilling Absa Premiership clash.

Maluleka comes into the team to replace Bernard Parker, who hasn’t recovered as yet from his injury.

Reyaad Pieterse continues to be the preferred goalkeeper, as he was in Amakhosi’s last match of 2015 against Bidvest Wits. That league encounter was won 2-1 in the Cape of Love & Peace.

Meanwhile, Erick Mathoho is fully fit again and will start against the Brazilians. This means that Morgan Gould will begin on the bench.

The game between Chiefs and Sundowns takes at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening, 9 January (kick-off is at 20:15).

Chiefs' line up: Pieterse (1); Gaxa (2), Mathoho (3), Gordinho (26), Masilela (24); Tshabalala, captain (14), Katsande (31), Letsholonyane (6), Lebese (17); Maluleka (12), Abraw (9)

Subs: Khuzwayo (16), Moleko (18), Gould (83), Bukenya (30), Ekstein (27), Matovu (28), Manqele (22)

Head Coach: Steve Komphela

Sundowns’ line-up: Onyango (36); Mphahlele, captain (16), Nthethe (2), Arendse (6), Langerman (4); Zwane (18), Zungu (34), Kekana (8), Dolly (7); Billiat (20), Castro (25)

Subs: Sandilands (40), Modise (10), Mashaba (4), Bangaly (29), Mbekile (5), Ngele (11), Laffor (28)

Head coach: Pitso Mosimane

Referee: Phillip Thinyani

1st Assistant: Sandile Dilikane

2nd Assistant: Songezo Xalakhe

4th Official: Chris Harrison

Match Commissioner: Ronnie Johnson