The Brazilians need just three points from the same number of remaining matches to retain the trophy with current log leaders UWC having already wrapped up their season.

READ: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala confirms offers

Downs host TS Galaxy tomorrow at the Lucas Moripe Stadium – a fixture Tshabalala says could easily be a banana peel.

"It's good for us to get a challenge like that, and, honestly speaking, when we get a such a challenge, it prepares us for tournaments like your CAF [Champions League]," said Tshabalala.

"But as much as people think it's done and dusted, it's not yet. Games in hand are not points, and we've got three tough games – TS Galaxy, you know what they did to the chasing pack, like UWC, so it's going to be a very tough game for us."

Sundowns will be eager to go into the awards ceremony on Saturday night as the 2023 champions, failing which they have another opportunity to pick up points against AmaTuks and UJ.

Tshabalala insists these are also tricky games.

"We've still got to play Tuks away, which is a Tshwane derby so anything can happen, and we still have to play UJ – you won't believe if I tell you, UJ is the only team we haven't beaten by more than three goals, we always struggle to beat them," he added.

"I always call them our hoodoo team, I don't know if my friend Nthabeleng Modiko has my notebook, but I think she understands how I play, and we hardly [ever] beat UJ by many goals."

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Local Start Time Venue	24 Jun at 11:30 AM
Local Time	24 Jun at 06:00 AM
Toss	Patriots won the toss and chose to field
Country	India
City	Puducherry
Venue	Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Ground 4
Established	0000
Result	Patriots won by 6 wickets

Finished Siechem Pondicherry Mens T10 Tournament