The hosts on the other hand were not in a dampened mode as they began the match on the front foot, racking up three corners inside the first seven minutes.

This surge in morale was no surprise with the Chippa having won two and drawn one of their last three outings.

Despite all the attacking talent on the field, the opening 30 minutes were a largely cagey affair with both keepers called into easy saves.

The game did come alive though in the 25th minute when Chippa protested for a penalty after an Edmilson Dove foul on Justice Chabalala but the referee Abongile Tom waved those calls away.

Four minutes later and Chippa were at it again and this time Sirgio Kammies was presented with the chance to break the deadlock early but hesitated at the crucial moment.

The defender turned midfielder burst from midfield to latch onto a Konqobe flick on behind the Chiefs defence but doubt set in as he attempted to control and find a teammate rather than flying through on goal to score.

That seemed to ignite a response from the visitors who thereafter created their first real chance of the game which was headed wide by Wandile Duba in the 32nd minute.

The Chiefs strikers were proving to be an issue for Chippa inside the box as Morris also came close to heading his side in front in the 36th minute.

The half time whistle signalled a need for tactical and positional change for both teams with the game goalless.

Nabi made the first two moves at half time as he hooked off Morris and right back Dillon Solomons for Lilepo and the returning Njabulo Blom.

Those changes seemed to lift Amakhosi as they played at a higher tempo in the first twenty minutes of the second half.

It was almost as if anything good Chiefs were doing had to involve their leading scorer Duba who again flashed a header wide in the 62nd minute.

Although Chippa did pose reasonable danger later on, the two teams could not be separated after 90 minutes.

Chiefs will next set foot on the field against relegation strugglers Marumo Gallants next Saturday while the Chilli Boys see Stellenbosch away on the same day.