Sbani Nntungwa of Richards Bay challenged by Yanela Mbuthuma of Orlando Pirates during the Betway Premiership match at the Mhlathuze Sports Complex earlier in the season.
Image: BackpagePix
The Natal Rich Boys will head to the formidable Seshego Stadium in Polokwane to take on a struggling Magesi in their last game of the season.
There may not be much pressure on Richards Bay heading into their final Betway Premiership fixture of the season, but the Natal Rich Boys still have every reason to finish strongly against relegation-threatened Magesi on Saturday.
Richards Bay travel to Seshego Stadium sitting comfortably in 11th place, while Magesi are rooted at the bottom of the table in 16th and desperately searching for survival points.
That desperation could ultimately play into Richards Bay’s hands. With Magesi forced to chase victory in front of their home supporters, the KwaZulu-Natal outfit may find opportunities to control the rhythm of the game and exploit spaces on transition.
Rich boys are known to be a side that sits deep and waits to counter on their opponents and with Magesi playing under immense pressure, they could fall right into the opposition's game plan.
Richards Bay have looked disciplined and organised in recent weeks, especially defensively, and their patience could become a key weapon away from home.
The Rich Boys arrive in Polokwane unbeaten in their last five league matches. During that run they held Sekhukhune United, Polokwane City and Mamelodi Sundowns to draws, while also grinding out an impressive away win over TS Galaxy.
Their 1-1 draw against Sekhukhune last weekend again highlighted a side that has become increasingly difficult to break down during the closing stages of the campaign.
Magesi, meanwhile, continue to battle inconsistency. They have lost three of their last four league matches and come into the encounter under immense pressure after slipping to the foot of the standings.
However, Seshego Stadium remains a dangerous venue for visiting teams. The Limpopo side famously demolished Durban City 5-2 there just a few weeks ago, proving they are still capable of explosive performances when momentum swings in their favour.
Richards Bay will also remember that Magesi edged them 1-0 earlier this season at the same venue before the Rich Boys responded with a narrow win in the reverse fixture.
For Richards Bay, this final match offers a chance to close an unpredictable season on a positive note. After enduring difficult spells earlier in the campaign, they now have an opportunity to head into the off-season with confidence and momentum firmly restored.
Jehran Naidoo is sports reporter for Independent Media and social media coordinator of the our YouTube channel The Clutch.