BLOEMFONTEIN Celtic yesterday got yet another home quarterfinal against Soweto giants in a cup competition.
Having beaten Orlando Pirates in the Telkom Knockout at the same stage in November, Celtic will be lifted by that emphatic come-from-behind victory when they welcome Kaizer Chiefs to their slaughterhouse for the last eight of the Nedbank Cup next month.
Celtic were eventual winners of the Telkom Knockout, and striker Lennox Bacela said although Amakhosi were tough opponents, playing them in front of their Free State crowd in three weeks' time would help Phunya SeleSele to be more daring.
"I think after we won the Telkom Knockout, a lot of people thought the wheels would come off. But we just kept going," said Bacela after the draw in Johannesburg.
"That has helped us go for even bigger things this season, and the way we beat Pirates shows how important our home record is."
Like their bitter rivals Pirates, Chiefs often huff and puff away to Celtic. The Premier League cup committee is yet to decide the date and venue for the pick of yesterday's draw, but it is likely to be the Free State Stadium.
Celtic and Chiefs will have an opportunity to asses each other before the cup game. The two meet in the league on March 31, something that will comfort Amakhosi hardman Willard Katsande.
"History will tell you that we are not that good against Celtic, but this is a different stage and a different competition," Katsande said.
In October, Amakhosi were held to a goalless draw by Celtic in a league clash played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Katsande said the possibility of winning the league double - they are five points clear at the top of the PSL standings with eight matches to go - was tough to ignore. We really need this cup, but we want to take it one game at a time.
Other quarterfinal matches include Mamelodi Sundowns against Platinum Stars and United FC taking on African Warriors.
The PSL said the last 16 fixture between Tembu Royals and Maritzburg United, delayed because of an arbitration process after AmaZulu complained Royals had fielded an illegible player, would be played on Friday.
The winner of this encounter will then face SuperSport United in the quarterfinals.