DStv Premiership preview wrap: Bumper weekend of PSL action ahead

Saturday

Stellenbosch FC v Cape Town Spurs

High-flying Stellenbosch FC meet an in-form Cape Town Spurs outfit at Danie Craven Stadium.

It is the second Cape derby in the space of a week after Stellies triumphed 1-0 over Cape Town City FC at Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday evening thanks to Devin Titus' winner. 

Spurs, meanwhile, held Orlando Pirates to a very credible draw on Wednesday evening. This after new coach Ernst Middendorp engineered two successive wins coming against AmaZulu and TS Galaxy as Spurs are now only two points below the relegation/promotion playoff spot.

The win over the Citizens took Steve Barker's men into second position on the DStv Premiership standings.

Swallows v Sekhukhune United

An in-form Sekhukhune United are looking to cut Swallows down to size at Dobsonville Stadium.

Sekhukhune are unbeaten in their last seven matches - an impressive run which sees them occupy seventh position on the DStv Premiership standings. Babina Noko claimed a 1-0 win over Royal AM at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday thanks to Maloisane Mokhele's winner.

Swallows look safe in 14th as they are eight points above Richards Bay in the relegation/promotion playoff spot. The Birds rescued a point in their last encounter with a last-gasp equaliser to hold AmaZulu to a 1-1 draw in Durban. Riaan Hanamub had given Usuthu the lead in the 78th minute befre Augustine Mahlonoko salvaged a share of the spoils in the second minute of stoppage time.

SuperSport United v AmaZulu

SuperSport United will be looking to reclaim second spot when they tackle AmaZulu at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

SuperSport will be slightly fresher as they did not play in midweek following their 2-1 CAF Confederation Cup defeat to USM Alger on Sunday last. Matsatsantsa have won just one of their last seven and that was on penalties against Cape Town City in the Nedbank Cup. Gavin Hunt's side have been leapfrogged into second by Cape sides City and Stellenbosch FC.

AmaZulu,  on the other hand, scuppered three points by letting in a late equaliser from Swallows in their previous fixture. Pablo Franco Martin's side are in 11th on the table.

Richards Bay v TS Galaxy

Struggling Richards Bay take on top eight hopefuls TS Galaxy at King Zwelithini Stadium.

The Natal Rich Boyz are looking anxiously over their shoulders at a resurgent Cape Town Spurs side, who have moved up to within two points of them following a spate of victories and a draw with Orlando Pirates. The Bay fell to a humbling 3-0 defeat to Chippa United on Wednesday and have Abdi Banda suspended, who was sent off in that match. 

Galaxy, meanwhile, occupy eighth position with the race for the top half extremely tight as only three points separate Galaxy and 14th-place Swallows. The Rockets will be fresher having not played in midweek since their 2-0 shock loss to Spurs on Sunday last.

Sunday

Polokwane City v Golden Arrows

Steve Komphela will take charge of his first match since his return to the Golden Arrows hotseat when his side visit Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Komphela was unveiled on Thursday with Mabhudi Khanyeza demoted to assistant coach. Komphela has a formidable task on his hands as Abafana Bes'thende look to break a run of 11 successive defeats - which is the second longest such streak in PSL history. Placed 12th on the standings, Arrows' latest loss came in a 1-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, Rise and Shine will be the fresher of the two sides, having not played in midweek since a 1-0 loss to Orlando Pirates last weekend. They are in ninth on the standings and have never besten arrows in five meetings betweeen the sides.

Royal AM v Cape Town City FC

Cape Town City FC will be looking to break a four-match winless run when they face Royal AM at Harry Gwala Stadium.

City will be smarting from their 1-0 Cape derby loss to Stellenbosch FC in DStv Premiership action at Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday evening. It has seen Stellies leapfrog the Citizens and SuperSport United into the CAF Champions League spot, which Eric Tinkler's side will be desperate to reclaim.

Meanwhile, Royal are down in 13th and coming off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United on Wednesday. Thwihli Thwala have never beaten the Mother City outfit.

READ MORE: What Itumeleng Khune brings to Chiefs ahead of the derby