This will be the first meeting between these two sides in the MTN8, but the second in cup competitions.

The teams clashed in the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup in the 2022/23 season Sekhukhune United claiming victory on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

Overall, they have met on nine previous occasions with one win each and seven draws. Five of those draws have been 1-1 and two 0-0. Stellenbosch did win the last meeting between the sides when they clashed in the second half of last season, recording a 2-1 away win.

Both victories for these two sides against one another have come away from home, so are yet to record a victory against their rivals in front of their own fans.

Stellenbosch have lost just one home MTN8 tie when they were defeated 2-1 by Orlando Pirates in the 2023 semifinals. Since then they have won three in a row, defeating TS Galaxy (3-1), Mamelodi Sundowns (1-0) and AmaZulu (3-2) in the last round. They also drew 1-1 with Kaizer Chiefs in 2022, but lost on penalties.

Sekhukhune United finally made the MTN8 semifinals having lost both quarterfinals they played previously. They were thumped 5-0 by Orlando Pirates in 2023 and lost 1-0 at home to Cape Town City last season. They won their first MTN8 game with a 3-2 victory over TS Galaxy in the last round.

Sekhukhune coach Tinkler was in charge of SuperSport United when they beat his old club Cape Town City in the 2017 MTN8 final. He was later an MTN8 runner-up with City in 2021 as they lost on penalties to Mamelodi Sundowns in the deciding match in Durban.

Stellenbosch are appearing in the MTN8 for the fourth season in a row. They made their debut in a penalty shoot-out loss to Kaizer Chiefs in 2022 following a 1-1 draw, and then were agonisingly close to making the final in 2023. They defeated SuperSport United 1-0 away in the quarterfinals, before a 2-1 home loss to Orlando Pirates in the home leg of their semi. They went to Soweto and won the second leg 1-0, but were knocked out on the away goals rule. But they did reach the final last year, only to lose 3-1 to Orlando Pirates in the decider in Durban. They had achieved a pair of 1-0 wins over Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals.

Stellenbosch made the final of the Carling Knockout in the 2023-24 season, and the semifinals of both the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup that campaign, to show they are a very good cup team. They made the final of the MTN8 last term and the semifinals of the CAF Confederation Cup, so kept up their form in knockout competitions.