Down to the wire in the relegation battle

Chippa United ensured their safety last weekend, but the four remaining sides involved in the relegation will likely have their fate determined in Saturday’s final round of DStv Premiership action.

It is not certain that the final positions will be known as Maritzburg United, who are still in the mix, will have a final game to play against Orlando Pirates next Tuesday.

But here is the state of play going into the weekend.

Baroka FC

Position: 16th

Games Remaining: one

Points/Goal-Difference: 25/-17

Baroka have taken seven points from the last nine available to stay in contention to beat the drop, with their 3-1 home success against SuperSport United last time out a surprise boost.

But they must now travel to fellow strugglers Maritzburg United for their final game and having only taken three points from a possible 42 on the road this season, it looks a tall order.

But with United needing only a draw, they could settle for a point that could yet prove vital for Baroka.

The Limpopo side have shown a big improvement under caretaker coach Vincent Kobola, but must probably better the result of Swallows FC above them to move off the bottom of the table.

Swallows FC

Position: 15th

Games Remaining: one

Points/Goal-Difference: 25/-14

Swallows are rather limping over the line, with back-to-back draws in their previous two games.

They face a daunting task at Kaizer Chiefs, who are themselves in need of three points to boost their CAF qualification aims.

Their superior goal-difference means they will stay ahead of Baroka if they can match their result, but will need a win, and hope TS Galaxy only draw, to move out of the bottom two altogether.

While not impossible, for a team that has only claimed four victories in 29 previous league games this season, that looks a long shot.

But they do have coach Dylan Kerr in their corner, he has masterminded final day escapes with Black Leopards (2018/19) and Baroka FC (2019/20) in the recent past.

TS Galaxy

Position: 14th

Games Remaining: one

Points/Goal-Difference: 27/-17

Galaxy have shown improved form in recent weeks and face potentially the simplest final day fixture at a Chippa United side who have nothing to play for and could already be thinking of their holidays.

A point will only be enough for Galaxy if neither Baroka or Swallows win, while if both of those are victorious then a draw will see The Rockets plummet to the foot of the table given their inferior goal-difference.

Conversely, a victory and they could finish as high as 12th in the table.

They have not been great travellers this season with two wins in 14 on the road, but that is still better than Chippa have been at home – they only have a single win 14 games!

Maritzburg United

Position: 13th

Games Remaining: two

Points/Goal-Difference: 28/-9

After their match against Orlando Pirates was postponed last weekend due to the latter’s CAF Confederation Cup commitments, Maritzburg have not seen action for two weeks and have a game in hand on their rivals.

They host Baroka in what should, on paper, be a simple task in getting them the point they need to confirm safety.

But even a defeat will only see them drop into the bottom two if Swallows and Galaxy move above them.

Baroka would need to beat Maritzburg 4-0 to move above them and that seems unlikely given the way Ernst Middendorp sets up his side.

But there is also their game against Pirates, where a loss would also hurt their goal-difference and perhaps keep the Limpopo side interested.