Kaizer Chiefs will be desperate to arrest their slide as they prepare to face an old boss this weekend in what will be another fascinating weekend of DStv Premiership football.
We pick out five talking points from the games on Saturday and Sunday.
AILING CHIEFS FACE OLD COACH HUNT
There is no doubt that Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane is starting to feel the heat as he prepares to come up against his former boss Gavin Hunt and an ever-improving SuperSport United.
Zwane was assistant coach during Hunt’s time in charge at Naturena and temporarily took over the reins when the experienced tactician was shown the door towards the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
He is now in full charge, but has had a difficult start the season with Chiefs having won only two of their eight games in all competitions, and sitting just above the relegation zone in the league.
SuperSport, by contrast, have won their last three league games in a row and look to be finding their feet under Hunt, who has added to his options this week with the capture of midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu from Orlando Pirates.
This has traditionally been a tricky fixture for Chiefs too. There have been 77 previous meetings between the clubs, with Chiefs just edging the head-to-head 30-29 to go with 18 draws. More recently, Chiefs have just one win in seven against Matsatsantsa.
AMAZULU CHASE RARE DOUBLE
Mamelodi Sundowns have reportedly added to their already star-studded squad with the signing of Bafana Bafana left-back Terrence Mashego from Cape Town City, a place they often go to find talent.
Mashego is unlikely to debut against AmaZulu on Sunday, but his arrival certainly puts another former City player, Lyle Lakay under threat.
That is the nature of the Sundowns squad, if you don’t perform (or even of you do!) there is always someone there to take your place.
Usuthu will be a tough test, even if they have managed just a single point from the last nine available after a strong start to the season. They beat Sundowns 1-0 at home the last time these teams met almost 10 months ago.
There has been lots of water under the bridge since then, including a new coach for AmaZulu, and Sundowns have yet to really click into top gear this season.
The Durban-based side have enjoyed success on visits to Tshwane, winning in 2017 and 2019, but overall it has been a fixture largely dominated by Sundowns.
There have been 20 meetings since 2012, with Sundowns winning 13 (including 7-1 and 5-0 successes), to go with four draws and three victories for AmaZulu.
Usuthu have not won back-to-back games against Sundowns since the mid-1990s.
TWO STRUGGLERS COLLIDE
Chippa United are looking for the rarest of things when they host Marumo Gallants on Saturday – a home win and back-to-back DStv Premiership victories.
Having removed head coach Daine Klate from his post, they won 2-1 at AmaZulu last time out and are now seeking two league wins in a row for the first time since they beat Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC in consecutive games almost 18 months ago.
They also only have a single home win in their last 21 games in front of their own fans, which came in that victory over Stellies. It is a damning statistic and the reason why they are continually fighting relegation.
Gallants have made a coaching change of their own after dropping young Frenchman Romain Folz.
They remain the only topflight team without a win this season, with six draws and a single defeat in their seven games to date.
They are in fact winless in 16 league games since a 1-0 home win over … Stellenbosch FC. Gallants have 12 draws and four defeats since then. Eleven of those draws have been in the last 13 games.
A TIGHT TUSSLE
Richards Bay have made a dream start to the new season having won promotion last year and sit in third place in the league, just three points behind leaders Sundowns with a game in hand.
That being the case they will expect to keep their run going against TS Galaxy on Sunday, a side who started the season well but have now taken two points from a possible 12, including back-to-back defeats in their last two.
Both of these sides have miserly defences having conceded three times in seven games, and while Richards Bay have scored six times in that run, Galaxy have just three goals.
This perhaps has 0-0 written all over it then, which may not be a bad result for The Rockets.
Sekhukhune in desperate need of a win
Sekhukhune United continue to be a side in freefall with two wins in their last 25 matches (D11 L12).
That is relegation form and unless coach Kaitano Tembo can arrest their slide quickly, he could find himself looking for another job.
They welcome a Stellenbosch team that have been underwhelming this season, but did claim an away win last time out when they were victorious 2-1 at Swallows FC.
Stellies are seeking back-to-back away wins for the first time in 18 months and will fancy themselves against a Sekhukhune squad palpably low on confidence.
Both matches between the two finished 1-1 last season but it is doubtful Sekhukhune in particular can afford another draw.