We preview the major fixtures as we enter the final stretch of the season.
Pirates aim for top spot
Orlando Pirates must quickly get over the disappointment of their 2-2 draw at Richards Bay last time out when they host another KwaZulu-Natal side in the form of fourth-placed AmaZulu on Saturday.
Victory would take The Buccaneers back to the top of the league, two points ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns, though having played two games more. Still, it would be ‘scoreboard pressure’ that would demand a response from The Brazilians.
Pirates do have an excellent record against Usuthu, having not lost any of their last 24 meetings in all competitions (W14 D10). AmaZulu’s last victory over the Soweto side was a 1-0 away win in August 2013.
Pirates won the reverse fixture 2-0 earlier in the campaign and have only conceded goals in two of their last 11 home league games. That said, Usuthu are on a fine run away from home, with five wins in their last eight games on the road (D1 L1).
Chiefs look to keep run going
Kaizer Chiefs made it five wins in a row when they defeated Magesi FC 4-1 on Wednesday night to tighten their grip on third place and, maybe, just maybe, open up the possibility of finishing second this season.
They trail second-placed Pirates by 10 points, but have a game in hand and must still play their great Soweto rivals on April 26.
They are currently on a run of five wins in a row, their best sequence in the league since 2019/20, when they won eight on the trot.
City are seventh in the league table but have not won in seven matches at home (D4 L3) since victory over Sekhukhune United all the way back in September.
They have gone OK against Chiefs in recent times. The last nine meetings have resulted in three wins for Polokwane, three for Chiefs and three draws.
Magesi seek home lift
Bottom side Magesi FC feel that their performances of late have been better than the results, and there might be a grain of truth in that, but at the end of the day it is about collecting points, and they desperately need to do that.
Wednesday’s heavy 4-1 loss to Chiefs was a sickener given they were in the game in the first half, but it also revealed their frailties.
They could move out of the relegation zone altogether with victory over visiting Durban City, who are going through their own sticky patch since making the Nedbank Cup final.
They have won two and lost three of their last five games in all competitions, with the scoreline 1-0 on each occasion, either for or against them.
City are sixth and have likely already done enough for an MTN8 place next season, but will be desperate to get to the 40-point mark to make sure. They are five short.
The reverse fixture in Durban earlier this season was a comprehensive 3-1 win for the home side.
Orbit College to dodge Arrows
Orbit College host a tricky Lamontville Golden Arrows side on Saturday, probably one of the most inconsistent teams in the top flight, but one desperate for points to push for a top-eight place.
Golden Arrows have come away with victories on the road at the other two relegation-threatened sides, Magesi FC and Marumo Gallants, in recent times, so you would expect them to do the same.
That said, they are also coming off a shambolic 5-0 defeat at Orlando Pirates in their last away game.
Orbit are winless in four (D1 L3) and have a draw and five defeats in their last six games at home dating back to November. The last team they beat on their own patch was Magesi.
These two sides have met twice this season, once in the league and once in the Nedbank Cup. Both were at Golden Arrows and, on each occasion, Abafana Bes’thende won 3-0.
Blunt attacks meet in Bloem
Marumo Gallants ended a run of three straight defeats when they drew 0-0 at home to fellow relegation-threatened side Orbit College last weekend and now face the league’s lowest scorers, local Bloemfontein rivals Siwelele, at home on Saturday.
They will view this as an excellent chance to get at least another point to inch towards safety, but a home win would be like gold. They have not managed one of those in the league since beating Chippa United 2-1 in October.
Siwelele have scored only 13 goals in 23 league games this season, while Gallants are joint second-lowest on 17 with Magesi and Orbit College. This one could be 0-0.
Siwelele edged the reverse fixture earlier in the season 1-0 at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, a ground the two clubs have shared for most of this campaign.