Here is a look at five key games in the league this weekend, with Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC all in CAF interclub action.
Crucial few days loom for Pirates
Orlando Pirates will hope to move six points clear at the top of the Betway Premiership when they host struggling Marumo Gallants on Saturday in what could be a decisive few days in the title race.
With the Buccaneers hosting Mamelodi Sundowns next Wednesday, it opens the possibility they could move nine points clear, albeit having played a game more, which would be a huge and perhaps insurmountable advantage. But they have work to do before that, starting with the visit of Gallants, who they have found a tough customer in recent times.
Pirates won 1-0 in the Carling Knockout final in December, but Gallants have won two of the last four meetings and were, in fact, the last team to beat the Soweto club in domestic action back in August. They came from a goal down to win 2-1. It should be said both Gallants’ wins were at home and their record in Orlando reads played six, lost five and drawn one.
Since that loss to Gallants, Pirates have played 21 and won 17 (D4) in domestic football, form that has seen them lift both the MTN8 and Carling Knockout trophies, and go three points clear at the top of the league. Gallants have lost their last five games in all competitions without scoring a goal, which must leave their 28-year-old French coach Alexandre Lafitte on the brink.
Can Chippa pull away?
Back-to-back wins for Chippa United in the league have seen them move out of the relegation zone as they prepare to host Richards Bay in East London. Chippa’s change in fortunes has been built on the back of a solid defence, having kept five clean sheets in a row and conceded only once in seven games. With three 0-0 draws in their last five games, it comes down to whether they can nick a goal at the other end too.
Richards Bay are unbeaten in five (W1 D4) and, until recently, really battled for goals but have scored five in their last two games. This one probably has ‘draw’ written all over it, though history suggests not.
Richards Bay have won the last two meetings, including 4-1 in the Carling Knockout in October, but Chippa had a run of four wins in a row before that, with one draw between those streaks. Richards Bay have also never won at Chippa, with four defeats and a draw in their five previous visits.
Sekhukhune target third
Sekhukhune United are still tenuously in a championship challenge but more likely fighting for a CAF Champions League place next season as they host struggling Orbit College on Sunday. Victory will take Eric Tinkler’s side third in the table after they put behind them a poor run of form to win back-to-back matches, albeit the second of those in the Nedbank Cup against second-tier Highbury FC.
They come up against an Orbit side in dire form, having lost six of their last seven games (D1) and without a win since early November. Orbit have played nine away games in all competitions this season and lost seven of them (W1 D1), their only victory at Richards Bay. Sekhukhune were 3-0 winners in the reverse fixture in August.
Golden Arrows seek away-day tonic
Bottom side Magesi FC are desperate for a win to end a wretched run of form that sees them winless in seven games (D3 L4) since the middle of October as they welcome Lamontville Golden Arrows.
The latter are coming off a 3-0 win over Orbit College in the Nedbank Cup, but before that their form was dire with no wins in six (D2 L4), though coach Manqoba Mngqithi might say performances were better than the results suggest.
Magesi are three points adrift at the bottom of the table and have appointed Allan Freese as coach following the axing of John Maduka. They will hope for a new-coach bounce, but in truth their squad is limited and there is no easy fix.
Golden Arrows need a few wins themselves to pull away from the relegation zone in what has been an inconsistent season. They have not won away since March 2025, a run of 14 games (D5 L9) since a 1-0 victory at Polokwane City. The three previous meetings between the sides have always produced a winner, with Magesi leading the head-to-head 2-1.
Top-eight ambitions
Durban City fired another coach in midweek when Sinethemba Badela left the club, with his assistant Pitso Dladla to lead the team in the interim.
They welcome TS Galaxy on Friday night, a side who tend to blow hot and cold but on their day are a match for anyone. Just a point separates the sides in the table in sixth and seventh respectively, which shows they have both had solid seasons to date, with a top-eight place and possible CAF qualification the aim in the second half.
Galaxy have battled outside of Mpumalanga of late with no wins on the road in five (D1 L4), while Durban City have been strong at home with six wins and two draws in 10 matches on their own patch in all competitions this season. Only Kaizer Chiefs (1-0) and Orlando Pirates (2-0) have come to Durban and won this campaign.
City have won the previous two clashes between these sides, which includes a Nedbank Cup win last term when they campaigned in the second tier.