NFD permutations: Who will and who won't?

Four sides remain in the hunt for the two Play-off places, with East London side Blackburn Rovers currently in second on 49 points, followed by Chippa United from Cape Town on 48.   A win for Rovers at home to relegation-threatened Bay United will secure their place in the post-season competition, as will victory for Chippa United at fellow contenders FC AK.   FC AK (45 points) could move above Chippa with a win of their own, but it would have to be by four clear goals as they have an inferior goal-difference.   CLICK HERE for the NFD news, fixtures, table and results.   Slip-ups for Rovers and Chippa could allow Richards Bay outfit Thanda Royal Zulu (47 points) to sneak in and they are at already-promoted AmaTuks.   It is quite conceivable that the Tshwane side will take their foot off the peddle given that their job is already done this season, perhaps opening the door for Neil Tovey's Thanda. You can watch that game live on SABC1 and SuperSport4 from 3pm on Sunday.   The teams that finish second and third in the NFD will play the side ranked 15th in the Premiership in a round-robin three-team tournament, the winner of which will play top-flight football in 2012/13.   The relegation battle on Sunday is just as interesting. Atlie FC have already had their fate sealed and will be in the Vodacom League next season, but there are still three sides who could join them.   Mpumalanga Black Aces face back-to-back demotions as they sit second-bottom on 30 points and must travel to mid-table FC Cape Town.   Both Bay United and Dynamos sit just two points above them. As already mentioned, Bay face the toughest of fixtures away at Blackburn Rovers, while Dynamos are at Carara Kicks.   The trio's goal-differences are similar, but should Dynamos (-7) and Bay United (-9) match each other's results, the former will stay ahead of the latter. It could though, come down to who loses by more if they are both defeated.   But whatever happens, Black Aces (-9) must win to give themselves a chance and should one of the other two draw, they could well move ahead of them based on goal-difference.     National First Division fixtures – Sunday (3pm): University of Pretoria vs Thanda Royal Zulu (live on SABC1 and SS4)       Witbank Spurs vs United FC   FC Cape Town vs Mpumalanga Black Aces               Blackburn Rovers vs Bay United                    FC AK vs Chippa United                    Vasco da Gama vs Atlie FC                Carara Kicks vs Dynamos        Sivutsa Stars vs African Warriors