Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
GOAL difference is likely to decide which teams join axed Chiredzi FC and Bantu Rovers on their way to the unfashionable Division One league. There are only seven Premiership clubs safe from the chop as the remaining seven are fighting for another dance in the topflight with two relegation slots left, setting a pulsating weekend for football lovers.

Defending champions Dynamos, ZPC Kariba, Caps United, FC Platinum, Hwange, Highlanders and Chicken Inn are safe, leaving How Mine, Buffaloes, Chapungu, Triangle, Harare City, Black Rhinos and Shabanie Mine fighting for survival.

Two rounds of matches are left with Shabanie Mine rooted third from the bottom with 32 points behind Black Rhinos who are two points above them. Black Rhinos with an inferior goal difference are tied on 34 points with Harare City, Triangle and Chapungu.

Buffaloes are on position nine with 36 points, a point behind How Mine.

There is no room for error this weekend.

Chicken Inn v Buffaloes (Saturday)

THE Gamecocks are safe and they will play a relaxed game with Buffaloes hard-pressed for maximum points. Buffaloes go into the weekend game knowing that a loss in the City of Kings and a victory for clubs behind them will push them down the table, meaning that they will need an outright win in their last game against Hwange at home.

For Chicken Inn the reality of a better finish than their city rivals will give them the hunger to collect maximum points.

Bantu Rovers v How Mine (Sunday)

With nothing but pride at stake relegated Bantu Rovers said they are determined to disappoint How Mine. Tshintsha Guluva have of late been playing beautiful soccer posting a victory against Chapungu and holding Dynamos last weekend.

Tshintsha Guluva might be holding keys for other relegation threatened clubs as their last dance in the Premiership will be away to Black Rhinos and would want to cause upsets on their way out.

Luke Masomere who is yet to lose a Premiership game in his seven matches in charge of How Mine is wary of Bantu Rovers but confident of sailing through.

How Mine need to win against Bantu Rovers to avoid putting themselves under pressure going into their last game of the season where they face Dynamos who are eyeing the title.

If they lose their remaining two outings, How Mine are most likely to be relegated and their survival clearly depends on them beating Bantu Rovers.

Chapungu v Black Rhinos (Sunday)

The team which loses this match might kiss goodbye to PSL action. The two army teams are tied on 34 points with Chapungu having a superior goal difference.

Chapungu’s last game will be against Highlanders in Bulawayo while Black Rhinos cap the season with a date against Bantu Rovers in Kadoma.

Chiredzi FC v Triangle

A mouth-watering encounter is on the cards in the Eastern Lowveld derby. Odds favour Triangle who have found a purple patch but Chiredzi FC will not be pushovers with their coach Gishon Ntini having a point to prove against his former paymasters who dumped him at the end of last season.

Triangle end their season with a home tie against Shabanie Mine and they know very well that a victory against Chiredzi FC this weekend can almost guarantee them a place in next year’s topflight league.

Caps United-Harare City

The Green Machine have already sealed their top four finish but would want to cement their third position by adding more woes to Harare City who have lost their last four league games, sliding into the murky relegation waters.

Harare City had shown promise after Masimba Dinyero took over but the steam seems to have run out as they find themselves tied on 34 points with Black Rhinos, Triangle and Chapungu all staring the axe.

What makes life even difficult for Harare City is that Caps United have never lost at home this season, with their defeat at the National Sports Stadium being against Dynamos when they were the away team.

Caps United’s spirits are high after their weekend 1-2 win over Buffaloes in Mutare and Harare City have to find a way of motivating their players after their 2-3 loss to ZPC Kariba.

The Sunshine City Boys wrap the season with a home game against Chicken Inn.

Shabanie v Highlanders (Sunday, November 9)

The last time the two met at Maglas Stadium last season Bosso thumped their opponents 3-0 and in the first leg of the 2014 season, Highlanders won 4-0.

After ending their five-match winless streak in the league by beating Chiredzi 2-1 on Monday, Highlanders would want to win again against Shabanie Mine who are fighting for survival.

Shabanie Mine who lost their last two matches are likely to turn on the heat on Bosso.

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League

Week 29 Fixtures

Saturday, November 8: ZPC Kariba v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium, 3PM SuperSport), Chicken Inn v Buffaloes (Hartsfield)

Sunday, November 9: Shabanie Mine v Highlanders (Maglas), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Caps United v Harare City (National Sports Stadium), Bantu Rovers v How Mine (Hartsfield), Chiredzi v Triangle (Chishamiso), Chapungu v Black Rhinos (Ascot)

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