Battle for survival rages on
WITH Mamelodi Sundowns virtually certain to win the domestic league title this season, the key races are now for second spot and the relegation battle.
Due to the erratic nature of this season, a lot with regards to these battles can change between now and the end of the season.
The race for second spot will intensify as the runners-up spot earns a club the right to play in next season's CAF Champions League.
Surprise package Royal AM are currently second but just four points separate them from third place Cape Town City.
Eric Tinkler's in-form Capetonians also have a game in hand over the KwaZulu Natal side.
It must be said that City face the trickier fixtures compared to Royal in the near future.
Tinkler's charges next play three consecutive away games against Sundowns,
Kaizer Chiefs and Chippa United. Royal AM's next two games will be against neighbours AmaZulu and Maritzburg United, who have both been struggling for consistency this season.
However, it must also be added that between those two fixtures, John Maduka's side will contest a Nedbank Cup semi-final game against Sundowns.
With one eye on the Nedbank Cup and another on the race for second spot, Maduka will have to carefully rotate his Royal side.
Meanwhile, fourth-placed Kaizer Chiefs are five points behind Royal with two games in hand. Given the inconsistency of Orlando Pirates, which is unlikely to end soon, it's safe
to say that the battle for second spot will be a three way battle involving Royal, City and Chiefs.
Meanwhile, in the relegation battle, there are just seven points that separate last place Baroka FC from 12th-placed Chippa United.
In the relegation dogfight, it's safe to say that the bottom five teams (Chippa, Maritzburg United, TS Galaxy, Swallows FC and Baroka) are all in danger.
The team that finishes last will automatically be relegated to the GladAfrica Championship while the team that finishes second last will have to contest the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs against the second and third-placed teams from the GladAfrica Championship.