Cape Town City revved up for the start of the PSL by freshening up their squad with two young players.
Following the arrival of 19-year-old Bafana Bafana striker Gift Links last week, the Citizens snapped up South African youth internationals Keanu Cupido and Karabo Ngwenya.
Centreback Cupido joins from French Ligue 2 club AC Ajaccio after two years of European experience.
The Joburg-born up-and-comer will slot into the first-team setup and compete with new fellow young defender Kouassi Kouadja for a place in the backline.
Cupido has also played in the national setup at every age group and was part of the 2015 U17 World Cup squad.
Striker Ngwenya, also 20 years old, will join the MDC side to help develop his skills and hone his goalscoring instincts.
He joins from famed Diambers Academy, of which Cupido is also a graduate.
There is definitely a younger feel to the squad this season after the departures of skipper Robyn Johannes for Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns-bound Lyle Lakay.
And they could get their chance to show boss Benni McCarthy what they can go this weekend, when City take on Kaizer Chiefs in the inaugural Mpumalanga Cultural Experience Cup.
Local side Mbombela United and Spears Of The Nation FC (formerly Acornbush United) will face off at noon in the curtain raiser to the big game, which starts at 3pm on Saturday in Nelspruit.
McCarthy reckons his manne have plenty to prove against the PSL giants after losing twice to the Glamour Boys last season.
The Bafana legend says: “We’re excited to play Chiefs because last season we couldn’t get that monkey off our back when they beat us home and away.
“So, we feel like we’ve got a bone to pick.”
And he is keen to show their PSL rivals that City are keen on improving on their fifth-placed finish.
He jokes that the club, embarking on only their third season in the top flight are now a big-time club.
The 40-year-old adds: “We are privileged to be part of this special occasion. It’s not every time a so-called ‘small fish’ gets to swim with the ‘big fish’ in the ‘big sea’, so it shows that we’re doing something right down there in Cape Town.”