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The Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs headlines the
DStv Premiership action for the weekend of March 5 and 6.
The Orlando Stadium plays host to the 83rd Soweto derby as Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs battle it out for CAF Champions League football.
The arch-rivals are tied on 32 points, with Amakhosi third in the standings after beating Baroka 1-0 last Saturday. The Buccaneers are fourth following a goalless draw with Cape Town City on Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's big clash, Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi said: "Unfortunately the derby has got no form, the derby has got no history. Anybody can win the derby, it depends on the day who is more prepared to do well in the match."
Chiefs head coach Stuart Baxter lamented the fact that no fans will be present at the ground, saying: "The tragedy is that the supporters are not there, and that's what makes it the Soweto Derby really."
Another massive contest on Saturday sees Baroka and TS Galaxy lock horns at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in a relegation six-pointer.
Bakgaga are rooted to the foot of the table and winless in four outings after they lost 3-0 to Marumo Gallants on Wednesday. The Rockets are three points above them in 15th position following a 3-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on the same day.
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Speaking in his post-match interview, Baroka head coach Kgoloko Thobejane said: "We need a win but how can we win without scoring? We're creating chances so it's disappointing, it's unacceptable with our position, we need results."
Cape Town City will be looking to push higher up the table when they welcome Sekhukhune United to Newlands on Saturday evening.
The point against Pirates in midweek took the Citizens up to eighth spot and extended their unbeaten run to three games. Babina Noko are just one place and one point better off after being beaten 1-0 by Swallows last weekend.
City head coach Eric Tinkler of confident of finishing in the top half of the table, saying: "Sometimes when you bring in six new faces it takes a little bit of time to adapt, but I'm definitely convinced that what we've brought in is more than good enough in term of its quality and our aspirations and goals haven't changed. We're still looking to finish in that top eight."
SuperSport United welcome AmaZulu to the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium looking to snap a two-game losing streak.
Matsatsantsa dropped one place to ninth following a 2-0 reverse to Royal AM last Sunday, while sixth-placed Usuthu are winless in their last three encounters after a 2-2 draw against with Stellenbosch in midweek.
Mamelodi Sundowns will attempt to take another step towards retaining the league title when they visit Maritzburg United on Saturday night.
The Brazilians went 18 points clear of the chasing pack after they beat TS Galaxy in midweek. The Team of Choice remain 12th in the standings, having suffered their third defeat in four games when they lost 2-1 to Golden Arrows last Friday.
Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has warned his players against complacency this weekend, saying: "These wounded teams can be very dangerous. Maritzburg have not been at their best, we would not want them to come back against us but we believe our players understand how important it is to give it their best shot and give the respect that is required and never develop any elements of complacency."
Royal AM will be aiming to keep the momentum going when they take on Swallows at Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Thwihli Thwahla leapfrogged Pirates and Chiefs into second place with victory over SuperSport, which extended their unbeaten run to three matches. The Dube Birds arrested a six-game winless sequence when they triumphed against Sekhukhune United to move up to 13th spot.
Chippa United will go in search of their first win in five outings when they face Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium.
The Chilli Boys are kept out of the relegation zone on goal difference after a 3-2 loss to Marumo Gallants last weekend. Abafana Bes'thende halted a five-match winless run when they beat Maritzburg United to hang onto 10th place.
Marumo Gallants will be targeting a third win on the spin when they host Stellenbosch at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa are just two points adrift of the top eight in 11th place following back-to-back victories against Chippa (3-2) and Baroka (3-0), with the Maroons in fifth spot after the stalemate with AmaZulu on Wednesday extended their undefeated streak to five matches.
Stellies head coach Steve Barker is hoping to cap off the season by finishing in the top four, saying: "It's important that we do pick up points in the run-in and create that gap and we would like to finish as a minimum in the top eight. We do however want to push and see if we can't convert a relatively good start to the season into a top-four position."
Saturday's fixtures:
15h30: Orlando Pirates v Kaizer Chiefs
15h30: Baroka v TS Galaxy
17h00: Cape Town City v Sekhukhune United
17h30: SuperSport United v AmaZulu
19h30: Maritzburg United v Mamelodi Sundowns
Sunday's fixtures:
15h30: Royal AM v Swallows
15h30: Golden Arrows v Chippa United
17h30: Marumo Gallants v Stellenbosch
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