Durban City hoping to put pressure on top three

Durban City will look to take advantage of the top three's inactivity in the Betway Premiership this weekend, while Magesi and Chippa United attempt to get free from the relegation mire.

Durban City have the chance to move into the CAF places when they take on AmaZulu in a KZN derby at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

The Citizens are in a four-way tie with Orlando Pirates (3rd), Kaizer Chiefs (5th) and Polokwane City (6th) on 15 points after winning four of their opening nine matches, having beaten Magesi 3-1 most recently before the international break.

With the Buccaneers and Mamelodi Sundowns involved in continental action this weekend, Gavin Hunt's side can put pressure on them as well as Sekhukhune United by claiming all three points in Durban.

Usuthu are only three points further adrift in ninth position and they will be aiming to snap a two-game winless run after playing out to a 1-1 draw with Chiefs last time out which followed on from a 3-1 defeat to TS Galaxy.

The addition of former City coach Simo Dladla on the technical bench will be a boon to the team, according to Arthur Zwane.

"Having Coach Simo, not only for this game, is a big time help with the players and more especially dealing with the young ones. Getting the information from the surroundings because he's a KZN boy," Zwane said.

"He knows how players behave with the ball, their strengths and weaknesses. So when it comes to profiling the players, I think that's the advantage we have."

A couple of hours later, TS Galaxy will target a return to winning ways when they face struggling Magesi at the Seshego Stadium.

The Rockets saw a five-match unbeaten run come to an end with a 2-0 reverse to Pirates on September 30 which pushed them down to seventh spot.

Galaxy coach Adnan Beganovic is wary of the challenges the stadium in Limpopo will pose to his players due to the compact nature of the pitch.

"This is a very difficult game for us because Magesi are an awkward opponent, especially there at Seshego Stadium on a very compact and small pitch.

"We have to prepare ourselves for long balls. That pitch doesn't allow us to have space because it's too small and it's so tight, so winning second balls will be crucial."

Dikwena tsa Meetse are languishing in 15th place, level with Stellenbosch (14th) and Chippa United (16th) on six points after winning just one of their first nine league encounters. A 3-1 loss to Durban City on September 27 was their third defeat in four games.

Then on Sunday, Chippa United will be desperate to arrest a three-match winless streak when they travel to Bloemfontein for a clash with Marumo Gallants at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium.

Luc Eymael has yet to get the best out of the Chilli Boys since replacing Sinethemba Badela at the helm last month, picking up just five points from his first five games in charge, although his team did manage to hold Sekhukhune United and Stellies to draws most recently.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa have suffered a dip in form since winning their opening two matches, with a 1-0 loss to Siwelele on September 28 extending their winless sequence to seven games and leaving them four points clear of the danger zone on 11th position.

Meanwhile, Richards Bay and Orbit College kick things off at the uMhlathuze Stadium on Friday, with both teams looking to bounce back from defeats prior to the international break.

BETWAY PREMIERSHIP MATCHDAY 10 FIXTURES:

Friday, October 17

19h00: Richards Bay v Orbit College

Saturday, October 18

15h30: AmaZulu v Durban City

17h30: Magesi v TS Galaxy

Sunday, October 19

15h30: Marumo Gallants v Chippa United