DURBAN – The First Division goes into overdrive on Wednesday afternoon, with a KwaZulu-Natal provincial derby offering more than bragging rights among the major clashes.
At the top of the standings, leaders Thanda Royal Zulu of Richards Bay host Black Leopards in the headline match of the day’s seven fixtures.
This game could represent a defining moment in the race for automatic promotion that Thanda have dominated for much of the campaign.
The KZN derby between Royal Eagles and AmaZulu in the Midlands also has a bearing on both teams’ promotion hopes.
Fourth-placed Eagles and AmaZulu in sixth are targeting at least a playoff spot – they must finish second or third. Only the winner of the league earns automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Thanda’s battle with second-placed Leopards, with seven games left to play, brings together teams separated by nine points. Leopards and others in the chasing pack, among them Stellenbosch and Mthatha Bucks, might benefit from a Thanda defeat.
It could open the title race for other teams if Thanda’s lead is cut to six points.
Durban’s sleeping giants, AmaZulu, will fancy their chances of registering a season’s double over their hosts. Usuthu go into the tie chasing a hat-trick of wins, while Eagles won one of their last three outings in a campaign blighted by inconsistency.
However, Eagles boast the league’s leading scorer in 20-goal Sedwyn George. AmaZulu will also miss Zimbabwean midfield anchor Butholezwe Ncube, who is suspended.
Kings are without head coach Kostadin Papic, who is reportedly in Serbia for a surgical procedure.