The PSL’s Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs are in full swing with University of Pretoria and Swallows FC taking victories over Cape Town All Stars in the opening two matches.
That makes life difficult for All Stars, who must now win their remaining two games and hope AmaTuks and Swallows draw both their clashes against one-another, starting with a meeting on Saturday.
Second-tier sides used to reign supreme in the play-offs, but that has not been the case in recent years. We look back at the past winners of the post-season competition.
2004-05 WINNERS: TEMBISA CLASSIC (second-tier)
The format was slightly different when first introduced as the side that finished 15th in the top-flight went into a knockout competition starting at the two-legged semifinal stage with the teams that ended 2-4 in the second-tier.
Premiership side Manning Rangers lost in the semis to Hellenic, who in turn were beaten 4-2 on aggregate in the final by Tembisa Classic, who would sell their franchise to form Maritzburg United.
2005-06 WINNERS: BENONI PREMIER UNITED (second-tier)
Bush Bucks were the top-flight side in the Play-Offs in this season but were ousted in the semifinals against Vasco da Gama, who in turn came up short against Benoni Premier United, later renamed Thanda Royal Zulu, who had the likes of Bernard Parker in their squad.
2006-07 WINNERS: AMAZULU (top-flight)
AmaZulu became the first side to retain their top-flight status through the play-offs after easily seeing off FC AK in the semifinals and then defeating Steve Barker’s University of Pretoria 3-1 on aggregate in the final.
2007-08 WINNERS: BAY UNITED (second-tier)
Bay United had Malawi international Jimmy Zakazaka in their side as they edged fellow second-tier club FC AK in the final. Black Leopards were the Premiership team but lost to United in the semifinals.
2008-09 WINNERS: MPUMALANGA BLACK ACES (second-tier)
Another win for the second-tier sides as Mpumalanga Black Aces, who had been surprise Nedbank Cup finalists the year before, earned their place in the big time with a 3-0 aggregate win over top-flight Thanda Royal Zulu in the Play-Off final.
2009-10 WINNERS: MPUMALANGA BLACK ACES (top-flight)
Black Aces were back in the play-offs but this time as a top-flight side and they managed to hold onto their status by the narrowest of margins.
The final against Black Leopards saw both teams win their home games 2-1 and sent the tie to penalties. Black Aces triumphed 5-3.
2010-11 WINNERS: BLACK LEOPARDS (second-tier)
Black Leopards, perhaps stung by their experience the previous year, made sure this time as they beat Bay United in the final.
Vasco da Gama were the top-flight side in the competition but were hammered 5-2 on aggregate in the semifinals by United.
2011-12 WINNERS: CHIPPA UNITED (second-tier)
This was the first year of the change to the current format whereby the team that finishes 15th in the top-flight go up against the sides that end second and third in the Championship in a round-robin mini-league.
It did not help the top-flight side as Santos were relegated and Chippa United were able to celebrate a maiden promotion to the Premiership.
2012-13 WINNERS: MPUMALANGA BLACK ACES (second-tier)
That joy for Chippa was short-lived as they found themselves in the Play-Offs again, this time as a top-flight side, but could not save themselves as Black Aces used the play-offs to secure a return to the elite league.
2013-14 WINNERS: POLOKWANE CITY (top-flight)
Polokwane City, formerly Bay United, became just the third top-flight club to save themselves via the play-offs in the 10 competitions to date. They claimed 10 points from 12 in the mini-league, beating off Black Leopards and Milano United.
2014-15 WINNERS: JOMO COSMNOS (second-tier)
Jomo Cosmos edged Black Leopards on goal-difference in the mini-league to win promotion, with top-flight Moroka Swallows finishing bottom of the table after their torrid campaign.
2015-16 WINNERS: HIGHLANDS PARK (second-tier)
Highlands Park romped to the mini-league win with 10 points from a possible 12, while top-flight University of Pretoria managed just a single one after a 0-0 draw in the final game.
2016-17 WINNERS: BAROKA FC (top-flight)
Baroka managed to buck the trend when they saved themselves in the Play-Offs in fairly emphatic style with two wins and two draws. They were up against Black Leopards and Stellenbosch FC.
2017-18 WINNERS: BLACK LEOPARDS (second-tier)
Top-flight side Platinum Stars finished bottom of the play-off table without a win as Black Leopards easily qualified. Jomo Cosmos were the third team in the pool.
2018-19 WINNERS: MARITZBURG UNITED (top-flight)
Maritzburg easily retained their top-flight status with four successive wins under coach Eric Tinkler to be the first side to claim 12 points in the mini-league. Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and Royal Eagles (now Royal AM) were the other teams in the Play-Offs.
2019-20 WINNERS: BLACK LEOPARDS (top-flight)
For the second year in a row the top-flight side claimed a full house of four wins as Black Leopards brushed aside Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila, who had already purchased the status of BidVest Wits and so would compete in the elite league anyway, and Ajax Cape Town. This mini-league took place in the Gauteng bio-bubble.
2020-21 WINNERS: CHIPPA UNITED (top-flight)
Chippa became the third Premiership team in a row to retain their status in a shortened play-offs due to Royal AM’s refusal to take part. It meant Chippa and second-tier Richards Bay were the only two teams that took part, with the top-flight team taking four points from the two games.