Though Sundowns’ lead at the top has been reduced to just one point, their advantage is that they have two matches in hand to second-placed AmaZulu and third-placed Golden Arrows who have accumulated 47 and 43 points respectively from their 25 matches.
The top five is completed by Orlando Pirates and Swallows who are tied on 39 points but the other area of focus will be at the bottom where Black Leopards, Chippa United, TTM amd Mariztburg United are involved in their own battle of who will be relegated automatically and go to the play-offs.
Bottom of the standings Black Leopards looks more like the team likely to get the chop at the end of the season as they have only 15 points from 24 matches while the battle to avoid the play-offs looks to be between Chippa, TTM and Maritzburg.
Maritzburg United vs Swallows
Maritzburg will be looking for their second win in succession when they take on inconsistent Swallows to boost their chances of getting out of the relegation zone where they have been struggling for the entire season.
They will have to be at their best against the Swallows side that will be looking to return to winning ways after three successive draws against Bloemfontein Celtic, Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United over the past few weeks.
Pick: Maritzburg Wins at 1.67 at BetXChange
Bloemfontein Celtic vs Kaizer Chiefs
Without a doubt, one of the matches for the weekend because there is usually no dull moment whenever Phunya Sele Sele takes on Amakhosi where they have produced some memorable matches over the years.
They go into this match as wounded lions as they both lost their last matches with Chiefs stunned by relegation threatened Chippa United and Celtic suffering the same fate by dropping all the points in their match against TTM.
Pick: Chiefs Wins at 1.40 at BetXChange
TS Galaxy vs Cape Town City
These two teams have experienced contrasting fortunes last weekend with TS Galaxy collecting maximum points against inconsistent Baroka to snap a four match losing streak while CT City were comprehensively thrashed 5-1 by rampant AmaZulu.
Galaxy are sitting eight spot on the log while CT City are placed seventh but their positions are threatened by Kaizer Chiefs and Baroka who are lying below them and can overcome them if they drop points.
Pick: CT City Wins at 1.63 at BetXChange
Golden Arrows vs AmaZulu
The KwaZulu-Natal derby has never been so much anticipated in recent seasons. The reason for the excitement is that they meet with both teams enjoying a hot streak of form with AmaZulu sitting second and Arrows below them on third spot.
AmaZulu have a better recent record of four wins in five matches while Arrows have only managed one win and four draws in the same period but advantage is with Abafana bes’thende as they will be playing on familiar home conditions.
Pick: Arrows Wins at 1.64 at BetXChange
Chippa United vs Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch recent poor record of three draws and two losses has dragged closer to the bottom half of the table but they will fancy their chances against the struggling Chippa United side that is sitting second from the bottom.
Pick: Chippa Wins at 1.56 at BetXChange
Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) v Black Leopards
The Limpopo derby always produces some good football and more of the same is expected as they go all out for maximum points that will help their respective ambitions of getting out of the relegation zone.
TTM will be favourites to get the desired results as they have shown some improvements over the last five matches where they registered two wins and three losses compared to Leopards who lost twice and drawn three.
Pick: TTM Wins at 0.95 at BetXChange
SuperSport United vs Baroka
This is a match between two inconsistent teams and it is difficult to pick who will come out on top because both their recent record does not make for happy reading at all.
SuperSport United have failed to win in their last five matches where they lost twice and drawn three times while Baroka have produced one win, three draws and one loss during the same period where they have relinquished their place in the top eight.
Pick: SuperSport Wins at 0.85 at BetXChange
Orlando Pirates vs Mamelodi Sundowns
This is without any shadow of doubt, this is match of the weekend. Orlando Pirates will be looking for revenge after they were thrashed 4-1 by Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinal of the Nedbank Cup two weeks ago.
On the other hand, Sundowns will be looking to maintain their lead at the top of the standings where AmaZuulu and Golden Arrows are breathing heavily down their necks.
Pick: Sundowns Wins at 0.07 at BetXChange
