Richards Bay reach a pivotal moment in their bid to avoid relegation from the DStv Premiership on Friday at Harry Gwala Stadium.
They travel to face Maritzburg United, who have hopes of kickstarting their fight against relegation.
The previous PSL fixture between the teams saw them play out a 0-0 draw at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in October.
Maritzburg against fellow Kwa-Zulu Natal sides have played 7 games their record in these games reads W2 D3 L2.
Against fellow Kwa-Zulu Natal teams this season Maritzburg have won 9 of a possible 21 points.
At home against fellow Kwa-Zulu Natal teams Maritzburg won against Royal AM, drew against Royal AM and lost against Golden Arrows. They have won 4 of a possible 9 points from their Kwa-Zulu Natal derby games at home this season.
Richards Bay have played six league games this season against teams from Kwa-Zulu Natal their record in these games reads W3 D2 L1.
Of a possible 18 points Richards Bay have won 11 points from their Kwa-Zulu Natal derbies.
Richards Bay won their first three KZN league derby games, defeating Golden Arrows 2-0 away from home then winning 1-0 against Royal AM and AmaZulu both away from home. In their last three derbies they have failed to win drawing at home against Maritzburg and AmaZulu 0-0 and 1-1 respectively, they lost also at home to Arrows.
Richards Bay are yet to win a KZN derby game at home this season P3 W0 D2 L1.
Head to head league games
P W D L GF GA GD
Maritzburg 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Richards Bay 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Maritzburg United
Maritzburg United are rock bottom on 24 points, three points from safety with five matches left. Maritzburg Utd were defeated 1-0 in their last PSL match at Peter Mokaba Stadium against Sekhukhune United.
In attack, Amadou Soukouna has been a key performer for Maritzburg Utd this season. He leads the club with six goals, two of which have been the crucial first of the match.
All of Sokouna’s six goals have been scored with his right foot, five of them from inside the penalty are and one from outside.
Maritzburg have averaged 46.17 per cent possession on average across their league games this season, Richards Bay average 48.83 per cent.
Hosts Maritzburg Utd have three wins, three draws, and six losses this season in 12 PSL contests at home. Maritzburg United are in the midst of a three-match home winless streak (W0 D1 L2) dating to February 3 against AmaZulu a game they drew 1-1.
Maritzburg’s last home league win was on the 15th January a 3-1 triumph over Royal AM.
In their last six league matches, Maritzburg Utd have won one and lost five.
Richards Bay
Richards Bay's last PSL match saw them beaten 1-0 by Golden Arrows at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium, extending their winless streak to nine (W0 D2 L7), leaving them in ninth place on 31 points.
Richards Bay are just five points ahead of the relegation places with five matches to play.
Visitors Richards Bay have been led by Sanele Barns, Somila Ntsundwana, and Tshepo Mabua, who have scored three, three, and two times, respectively.
Richards Bay have five wins, three draws, and four losses on their travels this season in league matches.
Richards Bay currently find themselves on a four-match away winless streak (W0 D1 L3).
They have not won away since January 14 against Marumo Gallants a game they won 2-0.
Richards Bay are on a nine game winless run in the league they have lost the last 7 in a row.
Richards Bay have failed to score in any of their last four league games going 367 minutes in the DStv Premiership without a goal, their last goal coming in the 82nd minute of their 2-1 loss to Stellenbosch at home on the 25th February scored by Luvuyo Memela from the spot.
Memela’s goal against Stellenbosch is their only goal in their last seven league games.
Richards Bay had kept 11 clean-sheets in their first 16 league games, they have not kept in any in their last 9 league games. The last clean-sheet they kept was on the 14th January in a 2-0 away win over Marumo Gallants.
No goalkeeper has faced more shots on target than Richards Bay goalkeeper Salim Magoola he has faced 93, he has saved 81.72 per cent of the shots that he has faced. He has also made 77 saves more than any other goalkeeper in the league this season.