Black Leopards and Platinum Stars will battle for a place in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup when they clash at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday, 13 March 2013, kick-off at 19h30.

Leopards squeezed past amateur side Cape Town All Stars 5-4 in the previous round, needing four goals from Zimbabwean striker Brian Amidu and extra time to progress to this stage of the competition.

They come into the game having recaptured some form on the league front – a 2-1 win over Golden Arrows last midweek brought to an end an eight-game winless streak in the top flight. Despite the victory, Lidoda Duvha are still very much in a fight against relegation.

As for Stars, they reached this stage after claiming a narrow 1-0 win away to Dynamos in what was a tough cup clash against determined opponents. Yet, on the league, front they have gone three matches without a win and lost 1-0 away to AmaZulu last midweek.

This will be just the third official cup clash between Leopards and Stars. Their first clash in a knockout competition was in the first round of the Coca-Cola Cup in 2004/05, with Leopards winning 2-1 away.

They met again in the 2009 Nedbank Cup quarterfinals, with Leopards (then in the National First Division) claiming an emphatic and impressive 3-0 win.

Overall, the teams have met in 13 league and cup matches since 2003/04. Dikwena have tended to come out on top, claiming six wins compared to just two for the Limpopo side, while five matches have ended in draws.

The clubs have already met once this season. A league clash hosted by Leopards was won 1-0 by Stars, with striker Henrico Botes netting an early goal to see his side pick up three points.

The teams’ differing league positions suggests Stars are the favourites, but Leopards seem to have found form, have won both previous cup matches against Dikwena and will enjoy home advantage.

Head-to-Head Stats

(All competitions, since 2003/04)

2003/04

Stars 1 (Moriri) Leopards 1 (Nhleko)

Leopards 3 (Nhleko 2, Mushangazhike) Stars 3 (Mkhize, Masanabo 2)

2004/05

Stars 1 (Maluleke) Leopards 1 (Matola)

Leopards 0 Stars 2 (Mmotong 2)

Coca-Cola Cup 1st Rd – Stars 1 (Mmotong) Leopards 2 (Lechesa, Sikhwivhilu)

2005/06

Stars 1 (Ramokala) Leopards 0

Leopards 0 Stars 2 (Mashego, Khaile)

2006/07

Leopards 0 Stars 0

Stars 2 (Manenzhe Ramokala) Leopards 0

2008/09

Nedbank quarter final - Leopards (NFD) 3 (Mongalo 2, Mapolisa) Stars 0

2011/12

Stars 2 (Mathe, Ng’ambi) Leopards 2 (Nkhatha 2)

Leopards 2 (Bobe) Stars 3 (Ng’ambi 2, Msowoya)

2012/13

Leopards 0 Stars 1 (Botes)