Six DStv Premiership matches without defeat over the last two months has catapulted Marumo Gallants from a sizeable deficit at the bottom of the standings to safety outside of the drop zone.
But with only four matches left to play, the side from Polokwane are by no means safe with a desperate battle emerging in the league’s basement.
Here are the prospects for the bottom three as they survey what remains on their fixture list and how they can hope to avoid the drop. The bottom placed side in the DStv Premiership is automatically relegated and the side that finishes second from bottom goes into the post-season promotion-relegation playoffs up against the second and third placed teams from the National First Division.
Marumo Gallants (Played 26, 27 points)
April 18 home v SuperSport United: A second successive game back in Polokwane and another match brought forward because of Gallants’ involvement in the African Champions League.
May 3 away v Maritzburg United: This could be the match that determines the fate of both cubs and is especially important for Gallants given who they must face in their last two games of the league season.
May 13 home v Mamelodi Sundowns: A game against the champions is no easy task for any team even if Sundowns might be winding down and have their focus on other matters like the latter stages of African Champions League.
May 20 away v Swallows: Another potential ‘cup final’ as the Birds are no means out of the danger zone either and if they suffer reversals in their last games could also be clinging on for dear life.
Chippa United (Played 26, 26 points)
April 27 home v Kaizer Chiefs: The penultimate home game of the season will likely see the biggest crowd of the campaign at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium but they won’t be rooting for Chippa.
May 3 away v Richards Bay: Chippa were 3-1 down when they clawed their way back for a draw against Richards Bay earlier in the season and will be hopeful of getting something out of this game too.
May 13 away v TS Galaxy: It will be a long journey to the Mbombela Stadium for a Chippa side who appointed Siyabulela Gwambi as their fourth coach of the season.
May 20 home v Lamontville Golden Arrows: A tough one to finish the season with, as Arrows might be in the hunt for a top eight places and have a dominant record over Chippa, who have only beaten the Durban club three times in 17 past meetings.
Maritzburg United (played 25, 24 points)
April 21 home v Richards Bay: The game that Maritzburg have in hand over the other two other two relegation candidates is a vital to their cause as they will have their partisan Friday night support to try and help them as they take on a rapidly declining Richards Bay.
April 27 away v Swallows: Maritzburg, who have won as many away games (3) as they have at home this league season, clash against a fellow struggler with the Birds also potentially in danger of being sucked down towards the bottom of the table.
May 3 home v Marumo Gallants: Anther home game against fellow strugglers that offers Maritzburg a potential way out of trouble, as they fight to stay up after 13 successive seasons in the top flight.
May 13 home v Stellenbosch: A tricky opponent for their last home game of the season, although they can draw some courage from the fact that Stellenbosch have won only one of four previous visits to KwaZulu-Natal this season.
May 20 away v Sundowns: What a way to finish as Sundowns party at the end of the season and receive their trophy and medals after the game. Maritzburg’s only chance is if the champions are distracted.