The race for automatic promotion to the DStv Premiership looks to be going down to the wire this season with an enthralling three-horse race for the golden ticket.
Only the top side in the Motsepe Foundation Championship seal their place in the topflight next season, while the teams that finish second and third enter the PSL Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs, which have not served the second-tier clubs well in recent seasons.
It means each will be desperate to finish in top spot, with Cape Town Spurs (formerly Ajax Cape Town) and Polokwane City seeking to make a return to the elite league, and newly-formed Casric Stars looking for promotion in their first year having risen from the ashes of Free State Stars.
Spurs (+15 goal-difference) and Stars (+12) lead the way on 53 points with three rounds remaining, while City (+15) are on 51 points.
We take a look at the remaining fixtures for the trio of promotion-chasing teams and where they may end up come the completion of the final round on May 14.
POLOKWANE CITY
Remaining Fixtures:
v Uthongathi (home)
v Platinum City Rovers (away)
v Pretoria Callies (home)
Prospects: Probably the gentlest of the run-ins with two games at home. They should beat City Rovers away and will likely do the job at home against Pretoria Callies, but the latter will be another tough opponent. Uthongathi are a wildcard and difficult to beat, so that could be a draw. We are looking at seven points from these three games.
Predicted final points tally: 58
CASRIC STARS
Fixtures:
v Pretoria Callies (away)
v Venda Football Academy (away)
v All Stars (home)
Prospects: The two away fixtures will be tricky opponents as both (but Venda in particular), are string at home. We think two draws away and then a win against the top-ranked team among their final opponents, All Stars, will take their tally to 58 points. All Stars will be difficult though, they have not lost in eight (W4 D4).
Predicted final points tally: 58
CAPE TOWN SPURS
Fixtures:
v Venda Football Academy (away)
v La Masia (away)
v University of Pretoria (home)
Prospects: Spurs also have two away games to come, including one at Venda. They have been iffy travellers and getting something from Limpopo will be a challenge. But we expect them to beat a La Masia side that has really dipped in form of late and are in the bottom four. They finish with a home game against mid-table University of Pretoria, who will have nothing to play for, but we expect six points from the three games and automatic promotion.
Predicted final points tally: 59