The Premiership makes a return this weekend, and with the heat still on at both ends of the table, a great deal still hangs in the balance.
Richards Bay FC are set to welcome Cape Town City at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on Friday night (7.30pm kick-off) in what will be a potential tiebreaker in their relegation scrap.
And while Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have their focus fully on continental football, an opportunity to make up ground for those below them will be available in a weekend that can shape up some of the key positions in the table.
Here Obakeng Meletse looks at five upcoming fixtures, and the impact they could have as the season’s light begins to fade...
Richards Bay FC vs Cape Town City
Both teams are currently on 24 points each, and any result that comes out of their clash will have direct implications in their relegation battle, as only three points separate them from 11th-placed Magesi FC.
A brace from Amadou Soukouna handed City a 2-1 win the last time the two sides met in January. The Frenchman’s double strike cancelled out Yanela Mbuthuma’s eighth-minute opener to hand his side a crucial win.
The Cape side haven’t won a match since then in 11 outings in the league, and coming up against a Richards Bay side that has also not been in the greatest of form in their recent matches, with two back-to-back losses, they will be desperate to break their winless run.
Marumo Gallants vs Golden Arrows
Fresh off a 1-0 cup semi-final loss against Pirates, Bahlabane ba Ntwa will welcome Abafana Bes’thende at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
The Bloemfontein-based outfit have, however, hit a good run of form in the league after having collected seven points from a possible nine, and they are currently in 12th position, with a three-point cushion from 15th-placed SuperSport United.
They come up against an Arrows side that handed them a 2-0 beating in KwaZulu-Natal last September in the first leg.
They have been a side on the rise under the guidance of Manqoba Mngqithi, with only one loss in their last five outings.
Sekhukhune United vs Polokwane City
With Stellenbosch FC securing a 1-0 win over AmaZulu on Tuesday, the pressure will be on both these sides to make up ground, as a place in the CAF Confederations Cup currently lies in the control of the Cape side.
Currently sixth on the log, Rise and Shine have lost the early momentum they had earlier this season.
Coming up against a Babina Noko side that have also had indifferent results since Eric Tinkler took over, a place in the top eight will also be on the line when the two sides clash in the Limpopo derby at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).
Chippa United vs Kaizer Chiefs
The Chilli Boys have never tasted participation in the MTN8 since the 2015/16 season, and a favourable result against Chiefs could steer them into the top eight. Chippa will host the mighty Amakhosi at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).
Despite Chiefs coming off an impressive Nedbank Cup semi-final win against Sundowns on Sunday, the Gqeberha-based outfit can count on the fact that the Soweto giants haven’t been able to string together any consistent results this season, despite some impressive wins in between.
Both sides will be battling for a spot in the top eight, as only one point separates them, with eighth-place Chiefs having played two matches more than the Chilli Boys in ninth place.
Magesi FC vs TS Galaxy
Dikwena tsa Meetse will be on the hunt to continue their strong end to the season as they will welcome The Rockets at the Seshego Stadium on Sunday (3pm kick-off), which they have turned into a fortress.
While they battle to keep their place in the top flight, Galaxy will be keeping tabs on the top three spots and also tightening their grip on the top eight.