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Royal AM and Kaizer Chiefs will be looking to strengthen their respective bids for CAF Champions League football in this weekend's
DStv Premiership action.
TS Galaxy and SuperSport United get us underway on Saturday afternoon at the Mbombela Stadium, with the hosts aiming to snap a three-match winless run.
The Rockets went down 1-0 to Baroka in a relegation six-pointer on March 5 which left them one point adrift of safety in 15 position. Matsatsantsa suffered their third defeat in four outings on Wednesday as they squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Orlando Pirates to remain unmoved in seventh spot.
SuperSport head coach Kaitano Tembo criticised the referee for awarding Pirates two soft penalties in quick succession just before half-time.
"We were doing very well in the opening exchanges and got the reward for it with the two goals. Unfortunately for us we had bad decisions that went against us and that allowed Pirates back into the game," Tembo said.
"I asked the referee to go watch the second penalty he awarded to Pirates properly at half-time because we believed it wasn't a penalty."
Cape Town City will be hoping to end Marumo Gallants' impressive run when they clash at Newlands a couple of hours later.
The sixth-placed Citizens beat Sekhukhune United 2-1 on March 5 to extend their unbeaten streak in the league to four games. Bahlabane Ba Ntwa drew 0-0 with Chippa United on Wednesday to go five matches undefeated, although the stalemate halted a sequence of three wins in a row.
Gallants head coach Dan Malesela will have top-scorer Phillip Ndlondlo and Katlego Otladisa available this weekend after the duo were suspended for the visit of the Chilli Boys in midweek.
"We are only expecting Phillip and Katlego to come back because they were on suspension and now it's done," Malesela said. "But other than that we have challenges at the back, we have to see what will happen at the back and take it from there."
Third-placed Kaizer Chiefs will be targeting a fourth win in five games when they welcome Golden Arrows to the FNB Stadium in the late kick-off on Saturday.
Amakhosi claimed the derby spoils when they edged arch-rivals Orlando Pirates 2-1 on March 5 to close within a point of Royal AM. Abafana Bes'thende are down in 12th position after letting slip an early lead to lose 2-1 to Chippa United on March 6 - their second defeat in three encounters.
Chiefs star Keagan Dolly expects Arrows to provide a stern test and believes the smaller teams have an advantage playing in empty stadiums as they don't feel pressure from the supporters in the stands.
"It's going to be another tough game. I don't think there's any easy game now in the PSL especially without the supporters. Anywhere you play feels like you're playing at home because there's no pressure on the so-called smaller teams. If they come to FNB it's empty."
Meanwhile, Royal AM will go in search of a third consecutive victory when they face Stellenbosch at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Thwihli Thwahla have impressed on debut in the top tier of South Africa and they are Mamelodi Sundowns' closest challengers, albeit 15 points adrift of the league leaders. John Maduka's side are unbeaten in their last four outings, having recorded back-to-back wins against SuperSport (2-0) and Swallows (1-0) most recently. The Maroons occupy fifth spot after a 1-0 reverse to Gallants on March 6 left them without a win in three games.
Stellies head coach Steve Barker insists it is vitally important to get maximum points against the high-flying KZN outfit in order to stay in touch with the frontrunners.
"We have really worked hard this season to get ourselves in a decent position and it's our responsibility and accountability to ensure that we maintain the good season we've had thus far," Barker said.
"Royal AM is directly one of the teams that we want to be close to so this becomes a six-pointer and if we don't get a positive three-point result they almost become out of reach."
Saturday:
15h30: TS Galaxy v SuperSport United
17H30: Cape Town City v Marumo Gallants
19h30: Kaizer Chiefs v Golden Arrows
Sunday:
15h30: Stellenbosch v Royal AM
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