It would be a major boost for them and signal again that we have a genuine title race on our hands this season for the first time since 2019/20.
Here are the talking points ahead of the weekend’s matches.
DURBAN CITY VS ORLANDO PIRATES
Pirates are currently second in the league, level on 25 points with leaders Sundowns and with a game in hand. They can go clear at the top when they travel to Gavin Hunt’s Durban City on Saturday, a stubborn opponent who will also be looking to move into the top five. The Buccaneers are on an excellent nine-game unbeaten streak in the league (W8 D1), with four of those away (W3 D1). Their only blemish is a 1-1 draw at Sundowns. City have conceded only nine goals in their 13 games and Pirates five in 11, so perhaps don’t expect a plethora of goals in this one. One might be enough for either side.
Chippa United’s horror run this season was compounded by a 2-0 loss at Pirates in midweek and they now travel to fellow strugglers Siwelele on Saturday, who have seen an uptick in form of late. Chippa have won just one of their last 21 games (D7 L13) dating back to March and have not managed a goal in their previous three, but may see this as a winnable contest, even away from home. Siwelele battled at the start of the season, but recent signs have been more promising. They managed back-to-back wins over high-riding Sekhukhune United (1-0) and Stellenbosch (2-0), the latter away from home, before a loss at AmaZulu last time out. Chippa are now five points from safety.
AmaZulu have been quietly having a fine season and will rise into third place in the table if they defeat Richards Bay in a KwaZulu-Natal Derby on Friday night. Usuthu have won three of their last four games, their only blemish a disappointing 1-0 home loss to Polokwane City, though their away form is not good. They have two wins in their last 15 away games (D5 L8) dating back to January, in contrast to some excellent home form. They did the double over Richards Bay last season, but the six previous clashes have resulted in two wins each and two draws, so this one is tough to predict.
TS Galaxy are another side eyeing a top-three place by the end of the weekend, such has been their decent recent run, as they go to mid-table Polokwane City in what will be a tough away day. The Rockets have failed to lift off on the road of late, losing four of their last five in all competitions, with only a 1-0 success at Orbit College in the Carling Knockout in that run. In the league it is three straight losses, with their last away success also at Orbit in August (3-1). There has also never been an away winner in the four previous clashes between these sides, with one win each and two draws.
Magesi FC sit second-bottom in the league with just 10 points from their 12 games as they travel to Marumo Gallants, who they will hope have one eye on the Carling Knockout final next weekend against Pirates. Gallants have been inconsistent this season under 28-year-old coach Alexandre Lafitte, beating Pirates (2-1) and Stellenbosch (4-0), and knocking Sundowns out of the Carling Knockout, but then losing games you would expect them to win. You never quite know which side will pitch up on the day. They are unbeaten in nine at home (W3 D6) dating back to March, but Lafitte will be the first to admit there have been too many draws. This will be a fourth consecutive away game for Magesi, who lost two and managed a 0-0 draw at Chippa in the previous three. They have not won away in the league since beating Polokwane 1-0 in February.
