A title race that has looked like a procession for months now could end timidly this weekend, going according to predictions, although Mamelodi Sundowns' adversaries will hope to prolong it.
Sundowns could be crowned Absa Premiership champions this Saturday, provided they win their matches starting with tomorrow's trip to Ajax Cape Town, and the crunch home against Kaizer Chiefs.
The Brazilians will, however, need second-placed Bidvest Wits to drop points in each of their games against SuperSport United tonight and Chippa United on Saturday to seal the title with three games to spare.
What could be tricky for the Brazilians, however, is that their six-point lead could dwindle if the Clever Boys win their games, and they fumble.
A Sundowns failure this week, coming on the back of a cup defeat to Orlando Pirates and an exit from the CAF Champions League, could be what proponents of a tense title finish are hoping for, but Pitso Mosimane believes his men will avoid a meltdown.
"We just have to be calm," the Sundowns coach said. "We have two big games this week, but we are in the best position of all the teams. We are six points clear. It won't be easy against Ajax and Chiefs, but if it's so difficult for us, you can imagine how worse it is for other teams who do not have this advantage."
Wits could narrow Sundowns' lead to three points tonight if they beat SuperSport and, should the Brazilians lose to Ajax, they could find they lead only on goal difference by Saturday, as the Clever Boys' match against Chippa (6pm) starts before Downs host Amakhosi at Loftus Versfeld (8.15pm).
But Mosimane is far from worried. "The reality is we have the advantage. We put ourselves in this position. We worked hard to be here by going 20 games unbeaten. We earned this advantage and we are not playing with the same pressure of other teams."
He said he expected nothing but victory against Ajax and Chiefs. Mosimane maintained that last week's setback - losing to AS Vita in the Champions League and Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup - didn't represent failure.
"We have done better than last season in the Champions League. Against Pirates, we faced a team who wanted it more because it's their only hope of silverware. We can now concentrate on the league championship."
FIXTURES
Tonight:
FS Stars v Maritzburg, Goble Park, 6pm; SuperSport v Wits, Lucas Moripe, 7.30pm
Tomorrow:
Cosmos v Celtic, Olen Park, 3pm; Aces v Arrows, Mbombela, 3pm; Chippa v Platinum Stars, Isaac Wolfson, 3pm; Ajax v Sundowns, Athlone, 6pm; University of Pretoria v Chiefs, Tuks Stadium, 7.30pm; Pirates v Polokwane City, FNB Stadium, 7.30pm
Downs can wrap it up this week
A title race that has looked like a procession for months now could end timidly this weekend, going according to predictions, although Mamelodi Sundowns' adversaries will hope to prolong it.
Sundowns could be crowned Absa Premiership champions this Saturday, provided they win their matches starting with tomorrow's trip to Ajax Cape Town, and the crunch home against Kaizer Chiefs.
The Brazilians will, however, need second-placed Bidvest Wits to drop points in each of their games against SuperSport United tonight and Chippa United on Saturday to seal the title with three games to spare.
What could be tricky for the Brazilians, however, is that their six-point lead could dwindle if the Clever Boys win their games, and they fumble.
A Sundowns failure this week, coming on the back of a cup defeat to Orlando Pirates and an exit from the CAF Champions League, could be what proponents of a tense title finish are hoping for, but Pitso Mosimane believes his men will avoid a meltdown.
"We just have to be calm," the Sundowns coach said. "We have two big games this week, but we are in the best position of all the teams. We are six points clear. It won't be easy against Ajax and Chiefs, but if it's so difficult for us, you can imagine how worse it is for other teams who do not have this advantage."
Wits could narrow Sundowns' lead to three points tonight if they beat SuperSport and, should the Brazilians lose to Ajax, they could find they lead only on goal difference by Saturday, as the Clever Boys' match against Chippa (6pm) starts before Downs host Amakhosi at Loftus Versfeld (8.15pm).
But Mosimane is far from worried. "The reality is we have the advantage. We put ourselves in this position. We worked hard to be here by going 20 games unbeaten. We earned this advantage and we are not playing with the same pressure of other teams."
He said he expected nothing but victory against Ajax and Chiefs. Mosimane maintained that last week's setback - losing to AS Vita in the Champions League and Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup - didn't represent failure.
"We have done better than last season in the Champions League. Against Pirates, we faced a team who wanted it more because it's their only hope of silverware. We can now concentrate on the league championship."
FIXTURES
Tonight:
FS Stars v Maritzburg, Goble Park, 6pm; SuperSport v Wits, Lucas Moripe, 7.30pm
Tomorrow:
Cosmos v Celtic, Olen Park, 3pm; Aces v Arrows, Mbombela, 3pm; Chippa v Platinum Stars, Isaac Wolfson, 3pm; Ajax v Sundowns, Athlone, 6pm; University of Pretoria v Chiefs, Tuks Stadium, 7.30pm; Pirates v Polokwane City, FNB Stadium, 7.30pm
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