Maritzburg United coach Eric Tinkler appears to have a tactical masterplan up his sleeve that can propel his team against the inform Kaizer Chiefs.

United and Chiefs will square off for a spot in the final of the Telkom Knockout in Mbombela on Sunday (3pm).

Tinkler has plotted cup successes with Cape Town City and SuperSport United in the past and is looking to do the same with the Team of Choice.

"We've got ourselves to this phase of the competition by working hard and keeping clean sheets, so that become very important against a good team like Chiefs," Tinkler said. "Defensively we need to be solid and we need to capitalise on whatever mistakes they make.

They are going to have a central defensive pairing that hasn't worked together [with Eric Mathoho suspended]."

Amakhosi are the team to beat this season as they are on top of the league and in the semis of the R4m cup.

Tinkler admits that the Soweto club is having best season in years.

"It's a different team from last season. They have new faces like Samir Nurkovic who has brought something different and they are a more direct team because of the height he provides upfront and Leo Castro as well."

United will be tested in their first away game in the competition this season. The showdown at the Mbombela Stadium will surely favour Chiefs.

"No matter where Chiefs go, it's a home game. They don't have the best record at the FNB Stadium and we would have preferred to play them there.

"Mbombela is a fantastic stadium and the surface is going to be great and that helps with the kind of football we want to play."