Stellenbosch, Galaxy in battle for top eight spot

Stellenbosch FC will face off with TS Galaxy at the Danie Craven Stadium in their final DStv Premiership match of the season on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 3:00 pm CAT.

FORM

Stellies suffered a 1-0 loss to Maritzburg United away on May 13 and the defeat extended coach Steve Barker's side's winless run to three games across all competitions.

The Western Cape side is placed sixth on the DStv Premiership standings - three points above 11th-placed Royal AM as the battle to finish in the top eight takes centre stage.

Meanwhile, Galaxy hammered a hapless Chippa United side 4-0 at home on May 13 as the Mpumalanga side snapped its five-match winless run in the league.

The Rockets are occupying the 10th spot on the DStv Premiership standings - two points behind sixth-placed Stellenbosch as both teams eye a top-eight finish.

TEAM NEWS

Stellenbosch will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Sage Stephens who will be missing due to a one-match suspension.

Galaxy, on the other hand, will have to find a way to overcome Stellies Kamogelo Sebelebele who is also suspended having netted twice against Chippa United.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker

"We need to play to our full potential as a team. We need to be committed to the game, we need to come with the right mentality. We have to execute our game plan, tactically and technically we have to be spot on," Barker said.

"Galaxy are a good team themselves. We have always had those types of encounters besides the Nedbank Cup match, which had an avalanche of goals. So, they also got their ambitions of finishing in the top eight.

"It won't be an easy game, we have to do what we have been doing well, and we have to do what we have done in the last few months which has put us in this position to finish in the top six."

TS Galaxy head coach Sead Ramovic

"We should enjoy the privilege after our win [over Chippa] because now we have everything in our hands," Ramovic said.

"We have to get the three points [against Stellenbosch] and hopefully, we get into the top eight. So, it is a beautiful thing that everything is in our hands, we had a beautiful season.

"If you work hard, like I have seen my players make sacrifices every day, they enjoy suffering. They all want to improve, we want to be one of the best teams in the league. We will try our best against Stellenbosch FC."

Stellenbosch FC:PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Junior Mendieta: The talented attacking midfielder remains the most creative player in the DStv Premiership this season with eight assists. Mendieta's creativity could be key to a Stellies win over the Rockets.

Iqraam Rayners: The lethal forward has scored an impressive six goals in Stellies' last four home matches across all competitions and he will be confident of finding the back of the net when he faces Galaxy.

TS Galaxy:PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Given Msimango: The Galaxy captain is a pillar of strength in the Rockets' defence and he has also hit the back of the net three times this term. Msimango will be eager to lead his troops to a win in Stellenbosch.

Bernard Parker: With Djakaridja Junior Traore out injured and Sebelebele suspended, Galaxy will look to the veteran attacker who has netted three goals and provided three assists this season.