Cape Town - Orlando Pirates defender Ntsikelelo Nyauza is confident that he can form a rock-solid central defensive partnership with Gladwin Shitolo.
The Buccaneers have a number of different central defender options at their disposal, but it's Nyauza and Shitolo who have emerged as regular starters in the heart of defence.
Overall this season they've played 10 matches together in the Absa Premiership, five of those yielding clean sheets.
The latest shut-out came in the Sea Robbers' 2-0 away win at Platinum Stars on Saturday at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
"In the first game I played with [Shitolo] at Orlando Stadium against Chippa United, I saw that we have a good relationship," Nyauza told KickOff.
"From then till now we have been solid at the back. We listen to each other and we all try to communicate and fight to concede less goals. The bond is strong," he added.
Pirates have the fourth best defensive record in the league this season after conceding 14 in 18 matches.
The Soweto giants are third on the table and are next in action away to Ajax Cape Town in the Mother City on Wednesday night.
Kick-off is at 19:30.