Magesi, Orbit, Gallants, Chippa: Every man for himself...

With all of the focus on whether Orlando Pirates will slip up yet again or rise to the podium this weekend, scant regard has been given to the hotly contested race at the bottom of the standings.

Bucs need three points to seal Betway Premiership championship against Orbit College FC at a sold-out Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

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Mamelodi Sundowns, currently occupying top spot by a two-point difference, have put their domestic campaign to bed and will be watching proceedings with keen interest from their hotel in Rabat as they gear up for Sunday’s second leg of the CAF Champions League final.

But the pot is brewing at the basement of the league table, with any of Magesi FC, Orbit, Marumo Gallants, and Chippa United not safe from the dreaded axe.

With 21 points and sitting 16th, Magesi have their backs to the wall, literally, and anything less than a win against Richards Bay FC at Seshego Stadium this weekend will mean the end of their two-season spell in the topflight.

Rookies Orbit are three points better off in 15th spot. Though they share the same number of points as Gallants, the latter has a much better goal difference (-17 as opposed to Orbit’s -24).

A draw for Orbit against Pirates, coupled with a Gallants loss, will see them exit conversations centred around straight relegation, with Gallants then either going down or to the play-offs depending on the Magesi result.

It means Gallants need a win to confirm safety with Orbit not anticipated to beat the Soweto giants by a big scoreline and close the goal difference gap if they do collect the three points.

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Chippa United, who are in 13th place, will be sucked into the scrapheap should they lose and both of Gallants and Orbit win. The two will be on 27 points and the Chilli Boys will remain on 25.

However, they are safe from straight relegation, as Magesi can't reach 25 points.