Big weekend for Stellenbosch and Pirates

As we enter the final five weeks of the season, the battle for a top-two finish remains tightly contested between Stellenbosch, Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United.

Stellenbosch are in pole position for the final CAF Champions League berth as they prepare for the visit of Polokwane City to the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Maroons extended their unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership to an impressive 16 matches with a 2-1 win over TS Galaxy 2-1 in Mbombela last Sunday to stay three points clear of Orlando Pirates.

Rise And Shine are two points outside the top eight in 11th position after a 2-2 draw with Cape Town City left them without a win in their last four games.

Orlando Pirates will be targeting three consecutive wins for only the second time this season when they meet Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Buccaneers have emerged as Stellies' closest challengers after winning three of their last five encounters, with back-to-back victories against Golden Arrows (7-1) and AmaZulu (1-0) keeping them one point above Sekhukhune United in third spot.

Thwihli Thwahla find themselves three points shy of the top eight in 12th place after playing out to a 1-1 draw with Arrows in Hammarsdale last Saturday.

SURVIVAL GAME

Meanwhile, TS Galaxy will look to continue their late push for CAF Champions League football when they host Moroka Swallows at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Friday evening.

The Rockets have surged up the table in recent weeks after winning four of their seven matches this year, although the defeat to Stellies last time out brought a momentary halt to their fine run of form.

Sead Ramovic's side are nine points adrift of the Cape Winelands outfit in sixth position, but they do crucially have two games in hand.

Survival is the name of the game for the Dube Birds, who held Mamelodi Sundowns to a surprise 2-2 draw in Soweto most recently to go six points clear of the danger zone in 14th spot.

Also on Friday, Richards Bay will eye a rare third straight win of the season when they lock horns with basement boys Cape Town Spurs at Athlone Stadium.

The Natal Rich Boyz (15th) gave their survival hopes a massive shot in the arm after claiming successive 1-0 victories against Swallows and Kaizer Chiefs to close within six points of Royal AM.

The Urban Warriors were beaten 1-0 by Sekhukhune United last Saturday to leave them without a win in their last six outings and eight points behind Vusumuzi Vilakazi's side at the foot of the table.

Elsewhere around the country, Kaizer Chiefs (10th) and SuperSport United (5th) square off at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, Cape Town City (7th) entertain Golden Arrows (9th) at the Cape Town Stadium and AmaZulu (13th) take on Chippa United (8th) at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

MATCHDAY 25 FIXTURES

Friday, April 26

19h30: Cape Town Spurs v Richards Bay

19h30: TS Galaxy v Moroka Swallows

Saturday, April 27

15h00: AmaZulu v Chippa United

17h00: Kaizer Chiefs v SuperSport United

20h00: Stellenbosch v Polokwane City

Sunday, April 28

15h00: Royal AM v Orlando Pirates

17h30: Cape Town City v Golden Arrows