PSL: Our pick of the pile

Cape Town - An out-of-form SuperSport United are unlikely to prevent Kaizer Chiefs from making it a meritorious five wins out of five in the Absa Premiership, Sport24’s gurus say.

Every PSL round, a panel made up of compiler Rob Houwing plus Garrin Lambley, Raymond Silinga, Earl Haupt, Wade Pretorius, Tashreeq Vardien and Maano Nekhavhambe will attempt to hit the right buttons in forecasting a trio of the most attractive games on paper.

We will keep a season-long leaderboard showing who is prospering and which wretched souls are floundering: three points for wholly correct scoreline, one for right result.

Here’s our next trio of spiciest picks ...

1. Wits v Moroka Swallows, Friday 20:00, Bidvest Stadium

Wits came to earth with a bit of a bump as they were soundly beaten 3-1 away by high-flying Ajax Cape Town in midweek, so will seek to quickly remedy that when they entertain Swallows. The Birds seem a bit fickle so far, but they returned to winning ways themselves by edging a five-goal spectacle against Polokwane City. Perhaps having noticed the statistical quirk that Wits have scored once (win, lose or draw!) in each of their four PSL games thus far, a few of us see them doing so again ... but probably with Swallows leaving with a point? You also get offers from the panel on both a home and away win, mind ...

Rob’s tip: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 2-1
Tashreeq: 2-1  
Maano: 0-1

2. Chippa United v Ajax Cape Town, Friday 20:00, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

This might have been a Capetonian derby, of course, but for the fact that the Chippa franchise has relocated to the Friendly City. So let’s call it an all-Cape affair instead, shall we? Since beating Platinum Stars encouragingly in the first round, United have slipped into a three-game run of defeats, including a midweek 3-0 hammering from Maritzburg United. So they will be considered vulnerable by visitors Ajax, the surprise, second-placed packages right now and one of only two remaining unbeaten sides with leaders Kaizer Chiefs. There’s an avalanche of pro-Ajax sentiment from our tipsters as a result.

Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 0-2
Earl: 1-2
Wade: 1-2
Tashreeq: 0-2  
Maano: 1-2

3. Kaizer Chiefs v SuperSport United, Saturday 20:15, FNB Stadium

Played four, won four ... Stuart Baxter must be pretty chuffed with life in the league at this point. The Amakhosi are proving especially adept defensively, and that’s no comfort to SuperSport United, their next opponents. The Swanky Boys, by contrast, aren’t exactly flying as they boast a solitary win for their three points (and disappointing 14th on the table) and three losses. I have a feeling Chiefs will be run pretty close by a SuperSport side keen to atone, yet set to suffer another defeat nevertheless. Others on the panel think it will be even easier for the log-leaders.

Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 2-1
Earl: 3-1
Wade: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-1  
Maano: 3-0

Leaderboard after four rounds:

13 - Raymond
9 - Tashreeq, Rob & Wade
8 - Maano & Earl
3 - Garrin

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing