Sundowns trail Orlando Pirates by three points but hold a crucial game in hand. Both sides have scored 26 league goals, with Pirates boasting a +19 goal difference compared to Sundowns’ +18. A single-goal victory in Durban would therefore be enough to reclaim top spot.

Miguel Cardoso’s side strengthened their position last week with a 2-1 win over Pirates - a result that kept them within touching distance after 16 matches. They are chasing a fourth consecutive league victory and have lost only once in the Premiership in nearly a year.

Yet momentum was checked in the Nedbank Cup, where Sundowns suffered a 2-0 Round of 16 defeat to TS Galaxy at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium. It was a setback that shifted immediate focus firmly back onto league and continental ambitions.

Meanwhile, Usuthu sit fifth in the Premiership standings with 30 points from 17 matches, just two points behind Sekhukhune United in third. A CAF qualification place is firmly within reach, and their consistency this season reflects a noticeable evolution in both structure and mentality.

They have blended experienced campaigners with emerging talent, becoming more tactically disciplined and harder to break down. At home, they have shown an ability to manage games with maturity, particularly when protecting leads - a trait that has kept them firmly in the race for continental football.

Their 1-0 Nedbank Cup victory over Richards Bay secured a quarter-final berth and extended hopes of ending a 34-year wait for major silverware. That progression, coupled with league ambitions, means AmaZulu remain competitive on two fronts deep into the campaign.

Recent league form has been solid if not flawless - three wins and two defeats in their last five - including a setback against Pirates earlier this month. However, performances have suggested a side capable of competing with the league’s top teams when concentration levels remain high.

Innocent Maela backs Orlando Pirates' readiness to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the title