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The bottom-of-the-table clash between Swallows and Baroka headlines this weekend's
DStv Premiership, while Royal AM and AmaZulu battle it out for the bragging rights in Durban.
The situation is quickly becoming do or die for the bottom-two clubs as Swallows lock horns with Baroka in a relegation six-pointer at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday.
The Dube Birds claimed their second successive point when they drew 1-1 with Marumo Gallants in Polokwane last Sunday, although they remain without a win in four games in 15th position. Bakgaga held Orlando Pirates to a goalless stalemate last week to halt a run of two consecutive defeats, but are still two points adrift of Swallows and four off 14th-placed TS Galaxy.
Asked what needs to change to save their season, Birds head coach Dylan Kerr told the media: "That dressing room. I don't think they're scared enough, even bothered. I don't think it hurts them.
"For the first time a goalkeeper stood up in that dressing room and spoke about his fear, spoke about how scared he is because he loves this club and he wants everyone to take responsibility."
In the only other fixture scheduled for Sunday, Royal AM will look to take a step closer to securing CAF Champions League football when they host AmaZulu in a local derby at Chatsworth Stadium.
Thwihli Thwahla extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with a 1-1 draw against Cape Town City in Green Point last Saturday to maintain the four-point gap to the third-placed Citizens. Usuthu continued their 100 per cent record under Brandon Truter after beating KZN rivals Maritzburg United in Durban to move within five points of the top three in seventh position.
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Truter has set his sights on finishing in the top three and isn't ruling out the possibility of playing Champions League football again next season.
"Look, I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't back myself and also doing research and knowing AmaZulu with the quality of players that is available I have no doubt that mandate will be reached," he said.
"I'm even confident about qualifying maybe for the Champions League again in second so that's still possible with 15 points still to play for."
In one of four encounters taking place on Saturday, Kaizer Chiefs will target a return to winning ways when they head to the Danie Craven Stadium to face Stellenbosch.
The Glamour Boys failed to take advantage of Royal AM's draw with City as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat against SuperSport United in Johannesburg last Saturday to fall five points behind John Maduka's side in fourth spot. The Maroons saw their three-match unbeaten streak come to an end with a 1-0 reverse to Chippa United in Gqeberha last Sunday to remain in sixth place, four points off the CAF places.
Stellies head coach Steve Barker admitted they missed a golden opportunity to go level on 39 points with the two Soweto giants in the standings, but is hoping to complete the league double over Chiefs and boost their own chances of finishing in the top three.
"That's why the result from the Chippa game was so disappointing because we had the opportunity to go tied with two big clubs in South African football, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs and unfortunately we didn't," Barker said.
"However, we have another opportunity - we beat Kaizer Chiefs earlier in the season and it would be a fantastic achievement for us if we were able to get the double."
Elsewhere, TS Galaxy will look to put more distance between themselves and the drop zone when they welcome Maritzburg United to the Mbombela Stadium, while Golden Arrows entertain out-of-form Sekhukhune United at the Princess Magogo Stadium.
The late kick-off sees SuperSport United take on Marumo Gallants at the Peter Mokaba Stadium aiming to build on their winning start under Andre Arendse, who replaced Kaitano Tembo at the helm last week.
DStv Premiership fixtures:
Saturday, April 23
15h00: Golden Arrows v Sekhukhune United
15h00: TS Galaxy v Maritzburg United
17h00: Stellenbosch v Kaizer Chiefs
19h30: Marumo Gallants v SuperSport United
Sunday, April 24
15h00: Royal AM v AmaZulu
15h00: Swallows v Baroka
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