Three-horse race to clinch the runners-up spot in the DStv Premiership

SuperSport United, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will continue their battle to see who finishes runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership.

Orlando Pirates will look to put early pressure on their top-two rivals when they take on Richards Bay at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Buccaneers trail SuperSport by just two points in third place after beating them 1-0 in Soweto prior to the international break on 18 March. It was their third win in four games and Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro admitted Matsatsantsa were tough to break down.

"They (SuperSport) are not where they are by chance after 23 games so it's a massive victory for us, massive [three] points for us and I'm really proud of my boys," Riveiro said.

The Natal Rich Boyz are in the midst of a worrying slump after a heavy 4-0 defeat to TS Galaxy in Nelspruit on 19 March extended their losing streak to five matches and left them winless in seven.

Vasili Manousakis has subsequently been placed in sole charge of first-team matters, with Pitso Dladla demoted from his role as co-coach.

Richards Bay (6th) are in danger of dropping out of the top eight, with Galaxy (7th), Stellenbosch (8th) and Royal AM (9th) all breathing down their necks.

SuperSport United are in action against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium a couple of hours later as the visitors target a return to winning ways.

The disappointing loss to Bucs halted a six-game unbeaten run for Gavin Hunt's side and the four-time DStv Premiership-winning coach acknowledged they were made to pay for not capitalising on the chances that came their way at the Orlando Stadium.

"We should have won the game comfortably, [we were the] better team," Hunt declared. "Seven games to go with our squad... two points in the clear so it's okay, we're alright.

"Football matches are about scoring. If you don't score... in the first two minutes of the game we could have been 2-0 up, we had two great chances there [but] we didn't score so that's what happens."

The Chilli Boys picked up their first point under Kurt Lentjies with a 1-1 draw against Sekhukhune United in Polokwane on 18 March, which snapped a three-match losing sequence.

However, the threat of relegation still looms as Lentjies's side are just four points clear of the drop zone in 13th place.

RELEGATION WORRIES FOR TEAM OF CHOICE

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch will be hoping to keep the momentum going when they lock horns with Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium.

The Maroons have surged up the table after a 2-0 triumph over AmaZulu in Stellenbosch on 17 March took them into the top eight and they are bidding to make it six games unbeaten in the league.

Amakhosi managed to keep pace with arch-rivals Pirates courtesy of a hard-fought 3-2 win over Maritzburg United in Pietermaritzburg on 18 March, which saw them close within two points of SuperSport in fourth spot.

Elsewhere, AmaZulu will attempt to get back on the winning trail when they welcome struggling Swallows to the Moses Mabhida Stadium in the evening kick-off.

Usuthu (10th) saw a two-match unbeaten run come to an end with the loss to Stellies and they'll be seeking an improvement after winning just one of their last five outings.

The Dube Birds (14th) only have a three-point cushion to the bottom two following back-to-back defeats against Pirates (4-1) and Golden Arrows (1-0).

Then on Sunday, Sekhukhune United will be seeking their first win in four matches when they face Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium.

Babina Noko had made an impressive start to life under Brandon Truter, going unbeaten in his first five games at the helm, but a draw with Chippa last time out was their third without a win and left them two points outside the top eight in 11th place.

Abafana Bes'thende's topsy-turvy season continued with a 1-0 success against Swallows in Soweto on 17 March, having lost three and won two of their previous five encounters.

The weekend's action concludes with a clash between TS Galaxy and Maritzburg United at the Mbombela Stadium, where Fadlu Davids's side will be desperate for maximum points.

The Team of Choice occupy the relegation playoff spot after failing to win their last six matches and losing five on the spin.

The Rockets will be keen to continue their resurgence after the big win over Richards Bay stretched their undefeated streak to five games, with three victories and two draws during that run.

FIXTURES:

Saturday, April 1

30m: Richards Bay v Orlando Pirates

5:30pm: Chippa United v SuperSport United

5:30pm: Kaizer Chiefs v Stellenbosch

8pm: AmaZulu v Swallows

Sunday, April 2

3pm: Golden Arrows v Sekhukhune United

5:30pm: TS Galaxy v Maritzburg United