The competition for the three teams that will finish at the top of the Betway Premiership log will intensify on Monday as there are games that will have an impact on the teams fighting to play in the Caf competitions next season.
The distance of the top teams, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, from the teams they follow makes the race to finish in third place, which comes with a ticket to play in the Caf confederation cup, keenly watched.
Currently, AmaZulu FC is the one still holding on to this position with 37 points from 22 games. They are closely followed by Kaizer Chiefs who are in fourth place with 36 points after playing 20 games.
In fifth place is Durban City with 35 points in 22 games and in sixth is Sekhukhune United with 34 points in 22 games.
There may be many changes on Monday as Amakhosi will visit Orbit College at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha, at 3 pm and Usuthu will face Sekhukhune at Princess Magogo Stadium, KwaMashu, at 5:30 pm.
Before the international break, Chiefs collected important points at this critical time of the season, defeating Durban City 1-0 and Magesi FC 2-0. These results reduced the pressure on the coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef and the whole team.
Because this team from Pfefeni has more games than the teams it competes with, it is the one that is determined to finish in the Top 3, but that will not happen if it does not use the remaining games in the right way.
The challenge is for the players to maintain their streak of not conceding goals, as they have done in the last two league games, and to strengthen their efforts to hit the net.
Usuthu will also enter their home with Sekhukhune driving high after collecting all the points in the last league game before the break, defeating Richards Bay FC 2-1 and Polokwane City 1-0.
This team coached by Arthur Zwane can kill two birds with one stone if they knock down Babina Noko, which is one of the rival teams.
Going into the break, things were not going well for Sekhukhune since the team coached by Eric Tinkler had not known a win in four league games since they last beat Orbit in mid-February.
In these four games, they played two draws and two defeats, including the latest game where they lost to Lamontville Golden Arrows 1-0.
As the difference in points is small, and the games are becoming less and less, Monday’s results will make a difference in the teams that will pick up the points, as well as those that will drop them.
Betway Premiership fixtures on Monday: Orbit College v Kaizer Chiefs (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 3pm); AmaZulu FC v Sekhukhune United (Princess Magogo Stadium, 5.30pm).