The Carling Knockout Cup is down to its final eight, and the quarter-final draw could produce some mouth-watering match-ups.
The draw takes place on Wednesday, 28 October, after the final Round of 16 clash between Durban City and Stellenbosch FC.
With Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and AmaZulu among the seeded sides, several intriguing combinations could emerge when the quarter-final pairings are revealed.
How the quarter-final draw works
The draw will be split into three pots.
The four highest-ranked clubs from last season’s league campaign will be placed in one pot, while the remaining four teams will go into another. A third pot will determine which team plays at home.
As a result, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu cannot meet each other in the quarter-finals.
Instead, the four seeded teams will be drawn against teams from the other pot.
That means Sekhukhune United, Golden Arrows, Siwelele FC and either Durban City or Stellenbosch FC are potential opponents.
The quarter-finals are scheduled for 6-8 November.
Potential blockbuster: AmaZulu vs Golden Arrows
A KwaZulu-Natal derby would be one of the standout possibilities.
AmaZulu booked their quarter-final place with a narrow 1-0 victory over Kruger United, with Hendrick Ekstein scoring late before goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela produced an important stoppage-time save.
Golden Arrows, meanwhile, sent out a serious warning with a commanding 4-0 victory over Chippa United.
Junior Dion, Sabelo Sithole, Nhlanhla Zwane and Jerome Karelse were all on target.
A derby at this stage of the competition would carry plenty of spice.
Chiefs could get another shot at Golden Arrows
Kaizer Chiefs vs Golden Arrows would come with an obvious revenge narrative.
The Amakhosi were knocked out of the MTN8 by Arrows in August, with Khulekani Shezi scoring the decisive goal.
The two sides then played out a goalless draw in September.
Another cup meeting would therefore give Chiefs an opportunity to settle the score — while also keeping their hopes of silverware alive.
With Chiefs already out of the CAF Confederation Cup, the Carling Knockout could become increasingly important to their season.
Pirates vs Sekhukhune could be a tricky tie
Defending champions Orlando Pirates could face Sekhukhune United in a quarter-final that looks considerably more difficult than it might appear on paper.
Sekhukhune have caused the Buccaneers problems in recent meetings, including a win in August 2025 and a goalless draw in January 2026.
Pirates have since enjoyed better results against Babina Noko, but another knockout meeting could be a fascinating test for the defending champions.
The Buccaneers cruised past Milford 3-0 in the Round of 16, although coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was unhappy with his side’s finishing.
Could Siwelele produce a cup upset?
A clash between Mamelodi Sundowns or Kaizer Chiefs and Siwelele could provide the tournament’s classic David-versus-Goliath storyline.
Both Sundowns and Chiefs have already beaten Siwelele in league action, making either side the obvious favourite on paper.
But Siwelele have shown signs of a revival after making significant changes to their squad during the off-season.
They booked their quarter-final place by eliminating Polokwane City on penalties following a goalless draw.
Could they produce another upset when the stakes get even higher?
One thing is certain: the draw could be explosive
With the likes of Chiefs, Pirates, Sundowns and AmaZulu separated from one another in the draw, there is plenty of scope for fascinating quarter-final encounters.
The identity of the final quarter-finalist will be confirmed after Durban City face Stellenbosch, before the draw determines the route to the semi-finals.
Which quarter-final would you most like to see?
