Kaizer Chiefs captain Itumeleng Khune believes the team is more energised this time than last season and can compete for honours.

Amakhosi will host SuperSport United in the MTN8 quarterfinals at Moses Mabhida Stadium tomorrow (8.15pm). Chiefs were second best the last time the two sides met in a cup competition.

SuperSport beat them 5-3 on penalties in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals in April.

Khune and company finished the 2016/17 season empty-handed, but the skipper said ahead of tomorrow's clash that Chiefs will be up for the challenge in the Wafa-Wafa tournament.

"I can't give away much about what's happening indoors, but I can only share with you that the players are energised than last season," said Khune, who was speaking at the PSL offices in Johannesburg.

"We knew when we closed at the end of last season that everyone was down and felt like we all didn't deserve to play for Chiefs. Now we've all came back with fresh minds knowing very well what is expected. We know we are playing tough opposition but we can match them," Khune insisted.

He said the senior players have had meetings to map the way forward .

"SuperSport are hungry for success as much as we are. We have to be on top of our game. We have to be hungrier on the day. Moses Mabhida will be packed with our fans and we can't afford to let them down."

Amakhosi will be without new Zimbabwean defender Teenage Hadebe who suffered an ankle injury a week ago.

Meanwhile, Chiefs confirnmed yesterday that George Lebese has been released for an undisclosed fee to join Mamelodi Sundowns.

"The deal was concluded this afternoon [yesterday]," confirmed Bobby Motaung. "We've seen Lebese grow with us and we released him at his request. We are happy that the negotiations went well and an agreement has been reached with Sundowns."