The 2013/14 MTN8 semi-finals take place this coming weekend with Kaizer Chiefs to host Orlando Pirates in the first leg of the opening encounter at FNB Stadium on Saturday, August 24. In the second semi-final, Platinum Stars have home advantage first up when they play Bidvest Wits at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday, August 25.

Here PSL.co.za takes a look at some important MTN8 semi-final numbers.

0 – The number of times Platinum Stars and Bidvest Wits have met in a Cup contest. Surprisingly, the two fast-rising clubs of South African football have never locked horns in a knockout game.

2 – This is the number of teams that are making their MTN8 semi-final debut. Platinum Stars and Bidvest Wits have never made the last four of the competition and they face each other in the second game on Sunday. The winner will also be guaranteed a maiden MTN8 final appearance in 2013/14.

3 – Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have met three times in MTN8 semi-finals. Amakhosi have not won any of the three meetings, with the Buccaneers winning two games and the other ending in a draw. They first met in the 2010/11 semi-finals with the first leg drawn 1-1 and the second going to Pirates 1-0. Then in the 2011/12 final, Oupa Manyisa grabbed the only goal as the Orlando side won 1-0.

5 – The number of times Chiefs have appeared in the semi-finals of the season-opening competition. Amakhosi have reached the last four in every edition since the competition became known as the MTN8, apart from last season when they were beaten in the quarter-finals by Mamelodi Sundowns.

12 – This is the number of goals have been scored to date in the 2013/14 competition. There were three each in the four quarter-finals. However, this is still off the record from the previous five MTN8 competitions, with 15 scored in the opening round of 2008.

14 – The record number of time a team has won the Top Eight Cup since its inception in 1972. There’s no guessing who the most successful team is, it is Kaizer Chiefs with 14 titles, followed by Orlando Pirates with nine.

19 – Chiefs and Pirates have met in 19 previous Cup matches over the years. Amakhosi have a slight edge with eight wins compared to the Buccaneers’ six. Five matches have been draws with two of those settle on penalty shootouts, both won by Chiefs.