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Johannesburg - The Absa Premiership relegation battle hots up this weekend when three of the four candidates are in action.
The trio - Bay United, second bottom Bloemfontein Celtic and 13th placed Maritzburg United - all have three fixtures remaining, but time is running out.
The club finishing bottom is automatically relegated to the National First Division, while the side finishing 15th will go into the dreaded promotion/relegation playoffs against the teams finishing second, third and fourth in the NFD for a place in the PSL next season.
Bottom club Bay will have their final throw of the dice when they face hard runnnig bidVest Wits at Milpark on Saturday night. Kick-off is at 20:00.
Bay have 21 points and defeat against Roger de Sa's Students would condemn the Port Elizabeth-based club back to the NFD after only one season in the top flight.
Celtic are on 27 points with Thanda Royal Zulu on 28, but they are not in action this weekend as they have only two matches remaining, while Maritzburg are in the strongest position of the four and have 31 points.
Wits are fighting for the top eight and are in no position to show any mercy to the Port Elizabeth strugglers. The Students, with home ground advantage, are set to end Bay's short stay with the big guns of South African soccer.
Celtic coach Owen da Gama is confident his charges can escape the drop. He has targeted six points from Sunday's home match against Platinum Stars (15:00) and next Wednesday's remaining home game against Bay. Both matches will be played at the Free State Stadium.
Said Da Gama; "Six points will be enough to get us out of trouble this season. We are playing well, but unfortunately we started picking up points late in the season. But it is not too late. I have studied Stars and if - as expected - Bay lose to Wits, we should be home and dry. I cannot see Wits losing at home. We have managed to get a 1-1 draw there recently and had to work hard for that valuable away point."
But Da Gama is not expecting his former club, Stars, to do him any favours. "Our future is still in our own hands. We have only lost one home game this year and that was against AmaZulu, and with our fans behind us on Sunday and next Wednesday, I cannot see us losing to either Stars or Bay."
Stars dealt Maritzburg a hammer blow when they crushed the KwaZulu-Natal based outfit 4-0 at Potchefstroom's Olen Park recently and then earned a credible 1-1 draw against Ajax Cape Town at Newlands on Wednesday night.
Said Da Gama: "Stars are playing for pride, while we are fighting for our lives and that will be the difference. I am hoping Stars will sit back and try and defend. That will suit me down to the ground."
Celtic are minus three suspended players in strikers Darrel Smith, Geofrey Sserumkuma and midfield ace Mark Mayambela.
"But," added Da Gama, "we have depth and I am convinced that no matter who I select, will be up for the challenge. We have a strong attacking side and will be going for broke."
The Phunya Sele-Sele coach is looking to strikers Gert Schalkwyk and Petrus Mahlatsi, and the midfield skills of Patrick Malokase, to unlock the Stars defence.
Maritzburg host Nedbank Cup finalists Moroka Swallows at their Woodburn Stadium on Saturday night (20:00).
United coach Gordon Igesund, like Da Gama, is confident his side will be playing in the PSL next season.
Igesund will want to set the record straight against the Birds who knocked United out of the cup in Germiston.
A win for Igesund's men should be enough to save the side from playing in the playoffs at the end of the season.
Maritzburg host Free State Stars at the same venue next Wednesday in their final home game of the season and like Celtic, are in charge of their won fate.
